The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-07-13
GRAFTON.
. ii,eEea ~ Albany Juiy AN. 1883. -
q. L. Mekee, OF Portland

Here FAR from the hilla the valleys
and the gorges of our native land, Nei
have gathered together in this our wes.
tern home, to oelebrate the birtlJsyoI
. great ard noble people. Here, who're
the fislds are clothed IN The garments
Of spring, aud the great mountains. lifi
their SNOW caprel suminits into lhs
regions of perpstual winter here. In
this state a. ours, where The distant
ocean "dark hsAving, boundleas and
sublime" moans continuously with lie
impas4ion.d waves, ''snd The Ear of
Cloada ef isatltry gald he like, iAlands
10 dark blns ssa" have We gathered
together, the sons, and The daughters
Of e,eey cIimr. TO oelehats the sacred
cause of liberty, aud rene~ bur allegi-
ance 10 this The common conatry Of us
all. Wa have met. - Ieioics With
CHING children, fair womra aud brave
men aud 10 bless the day which has
given 10 az nation snch as ne'er came
before Ia mar in the tide 1f time :;
which, pre,ibns To its birth, existed
only in The dreamy imsginatinG cf the
poet or the philosopher. but stands
forth to-day living. breathing reality,
opening its broad arms and receiving 20
It's foud embrace the distressed uf every
country, aud of every e,eed, giving
shelter aud protection TO the exile. the
stranger and the wanderer, holding in
one hand prace and love to all mankind,
while with the other il reaches cut
ward. reaches onward, reaches ever and
takes its reckoning by the stars.
4 little more than century ago To-
DAY, = youthful people, in the very
childhood Of their life stnng 20 the hear,
by ihs bitter wrongs and expressions Of
their mother country, by their " DeclAr-
atom of Independence" severed then. /.
sslssn forever from their pareat govern
mea,. Long and direful were the years
that. followed death and distinction
lag pale and ghostly, under the moeulit
sky the roar of the deep voiced cam
moo 'horssI upon the sightless eoniiers
of the air" made the very atmoaphere
heavy with its nuttsred thunder. War
with Is maimed hand and clotted look :
ehaffsd the white arms Of oar nev made
Queen, as she SCARED her young faet
with its fawns, and de-ecratsd her fair
bosom ~ith The blood Of her children.
But the spirit of patriotism that dared
TO tear froIs England the bright test jew
81 OF tie British crown, walked with het
like a divinity through the a,mes sf
hattie. an.l preserved her uabarmed
from it- cnnfiagration.
Great soldiers wrote their honored
names with sword in hand. upon the
pages u Nations history learned
men wsve into the texture Of her being
thos. graai principle. and time honor
ei iisas th,t were destined in due time
TO bear the hest Of fruitage, in gisins
u the Young republic, then oblsAt Of In
s;itutions and the most compr ehensive
Of policies. For while We recall 70 minC
snch names as Washington, Putnam
Warren, and host Of others, let as no
forge: such msu as Henry Lee, Adams
Jefferson, add the many others tha
clustered about them, some nnmhsres
with onr sacred dead.
''They fell devoted. but undyine,
q The very gale their names seem sighing
The waters murmured OF their name,
The woeds were pcopled with their fam
The silent pillar, lone and gray
Claimed kindered with their sacred clay
Their spirits wrapped the dasky mountain;
Their memory sparklcd Ger the fountain
The meanest.rill and mightiest river
Rolled mingling in their fame forever"
Immortal dead if you are looking
down upon us through the ''goldene
!. gates afAr" you can but know that th
!. face Of nation is turned towards 20
with heartfelt thanks for this land {
!. plenty. of beauty and peace. The liy
2 ing of q new generation with nplifte
: hands greet the dead Of the old shade
Y ofthe departed, hover about Ms lik
] the spirits Of the just, and teach as b
: 4 thy divine presence, to walk ever i
! the paths that thou hast pointed ouI
30 thai, through each revolving veal
I we that are kft behlnd may feel that v
are worthy children Of illusrroas iatf
ers that have gone hefore.9
:. At the birth Of our young lepnbl
% many Of the. great powers Of EaroI
It aided aud assisted. Even England ga'
z her great minds to advocate our ial
cause. Can the Irish people forget, TN
the greatest lawyer and statesman Of b
: day, or Of all time, WAS lsn Irishmal
Q who shook with the thunder Of his eli
I qnencr the British Parliament on b
e half Of our people, struggling to be fre
n Can they forget that oae sof the fir
I great soldiers Of the revolution, WI
: poured out his lifs's blood on behalf
or country was BY brit. by ,aucatio
4 and By instinct, an Irishman. Des