The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-07-16
The Fourth at Barker.

We have a communication from a
subscriber at Clendenin giving al ac-
count Of the Fourth at that place, from
which it can be seen that Barker lacks a
good deal of being dead as yet.
On the Sd Messrs. Hem and Olinger,
with the assistance Of others, erected
swings and turning bars for the amuse-
ment of the juvenile portion of the camp,
and some who were not so juvenile took
a hand in the athletic sports with as
much zest and pleasure as the little
folks. The place selected for the picnic
was in the nice open grove just above
Mr.. Henn's residence, near Gold Run.
At about 10 80 d. III. the young people
commenced gathering Oh the picnic
grounds, bringing baskets of refresh
ments, and by one O'clock the grove was
fairly thronged with old and young
some singing, some swinging and all
enjoying themselves heartily.
The first thing on the regular program
me was the national anthem, MY coun-
try It's Of thee" sung by Master Johnny
Hem and Misses Susie and Hattie
Olinger, followed by other patriotic
songs in which all united, making the
grove resound with vocal patriotism.
Luncheon came neXt and merry groups
could be seen here and there in the
shadows of the great pine trees, partak-
ing of refreshments prepared tor the
occasion, including an unstinted supply
Of beer from Lilly's brewery, donated
by Messrs. Bales, May, Otey, Osman,
Lilly and Hem. Oscar OlInger then
responded to the Call of many citizens
in an Grafton Of considerable length,
which, for its excellence, surprised We
his most intimate friends. The Grafton
has been furnished us in full for publica-
ton, but owing to its length we are
unable to comply with the request Of four
friends at Barker, but submit the follow
ing concluding portion as a sample of
the whole:
America is a great country and we'll
may an American be proud of it. [ do
to-day; nay, | do not believe there is one
ON what seas he may be sailing or under
what skies he may be sojourning, who is
shielded by the protective folds of that
dear old banner, whose heart does not
go out in ecstacies of delight when he
feels and knows that he is an American
citizen when he feels that he owes
tribute to no monarch; that he is at
liberty to do and act as he pleases, as
long as it is in conformity with the laws
hat he himself assists in making that
he is at liberty to worship God according
to the dictates of his own CONFIDENCE,
with no one to hinder or modest him.
These are inestimable privileges
privileges which no other nation on the
globe to-day enjoy; privileges that are
the fruits of the tree of liberty, the seeds
of which terminated one-hundred and
eight years ago in the rich a~lluvial soil
Of freedom and warmed by the etfulgent
rays of the sun of liberty, has grown
with such rapidity and attained such
magnitude that to-day her boughs reach
from ocean to ocean and her branches
extend far out into the sea But let us
for a few moments consider this our own
location, and read the future OF Montana.
AS was said by the illustrious Patrick
Henry, / know of no way OF judgingth
future except by the past and by this
test [ predict that ere the lapse of anoth-
er decade Montana will be one of the
most prosperous states in the Union.
With all of her varied and
her natural elements of wealth [ know of
liz IcdSOu " plSuiCU OtuOl WlSt. IltI
vast expanse OF grazing country, afford
ing both food and shelter for hundreds
of thousands of domestic animals, in
itself affords a great event to our terri
tory. The herdsman has a ready market
for his beeves and the shepherd for the
products of his fiocks, though which
channels alone there is a continual
stream of wealth flowing into the terri
tory. Our vast mountainous country is
inlaid with the precious metals, the
greatest source of wealth to the future
state Of Montana. All that is needed is
the magic touch of capital to convert this
hidden treasure into tangible wealth.
Although mining was the first industry
in our territory it is still in its infancy;
at least one-third Of Our mining territory
is unexplored and most of it undevelop-
ed. But now railroads are coming in
we may expect to see a grand develop
ment of the mining industry giving
employment to an army of men, thus
affording a ready market for the farmer
and giving impetus to agriculture. Our
beautiful valleys bordering upon the
crystal streams which take their source
in these snow capped mountains are
indeed a paradise to the h~usbandman.
Taking all Of these things into considera-
ton I see a great future for Montana and
when she is admitted to the union Of
states her star will shine as brightly as
any in the glorious constellation
During the delivery of his address
Mr.. Olinger was frequently ~applanded
and at its conclusion was heartily con-
nratulated. In the evening nearly every