The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1884-07-13
OEAIION.

Joy IN peace. the fruits OF the suffering
oil our forefathers in war: TO pay n scan
tribute of respect to the memory of thos,
who laid down their iires and fortune.
Tor us. TO do homage to those great mar
tyrs OF freedom, whose quiet heroisn
was exhibited upon every battle field oil
the revolution and through whose strug,
giles and deaths we proudly and peace
fully live to-day. On this occasion it is
but ht and becoming that l should
well upon what We have been. what we
are and what we expect to be as a ma
h0n, and preliminary to the discussion
of the present condition Of our country
shall glance briefly over the revolution.
AIRY period.
One hundred and six years ago., thir-
ten colonies, under the auspices Of
Great Britain had been planted on the
shores OF the New World. For years
they had tlourished in peace and had
peacefully O6eyed the Governors who
had been sent out 10y the King. But i'll
lUi, when Parliament, a body in which
these colonies were not represented, at
tempted to lay an imposing tax on GER
tain documents and papers and articles
OF importation, n feeling of d~!sseution
arose throughout the North. Americans
would not BE- humblcd and have their
rights curt"iled by submitting to taxntion
without representation. In the hight
of the excitement that followed, and
when remonstmnce after relnonstrance
and appeal after appeal to tue King and
Parliament had proved to no effect, was
recommended the assembling Of CONT
mental congress to deliberate on the state
OF affairs, the recommendation was
adopted, the delegates were chosen. and
the Congress assembled at Philadelphia,
Sept 1, l77i. They adopted a declaration
OF rights, and addresses to the people of
England. of the Colonies. and TO the
King, setting forth their grievances and
claims for redress. But ever faithful ia
the mother country through all that
could be hOnoraUly borne, they re-
Trained from any v~iolcnct measures.
But after the rejection Of these address
es and after renewed insults by the Brit.
ish sold!ery, n second congress assem-
bled in May, 1915. They took meas
ures for raising an army, and appointed
Washington COmmander-in-chief. On
the ith Of July, l77G. this second Cont.
mental Congress signed the Declaration
Of Independence, declaring that the Col.
onies were of right, and ought to be
free and independent States" This was
u pen!ous step, and nothing but the
o intense love FOR liberty could have
prompted 1t. But ''he whose cause is
just, is thrice armed and God governs
in the affairs of man" A handful of
colonies with n population of two mill
lions, without soldiers, without armies,
and without money, boldly made ready
to maintain their rights 10y war with the
Mistress Of the sea and the foremost ma
ton in all Christendom. Perseverance
through hunger and rags, through blood
and death, gained tie victory and the
grnnduer that hoyers over the gcniuses
OF Alexander, of Caescr, OF Cromwell. Of
Napoleon, will sink into oblivion, while
that of our beloved Washington will be.
come more and more glorious. TIT
founders Of oppression will be forgotten
but the founder Of liberty will ever be
cherished in proudcst remembrance b,
the millions vet to come.
The success OF American Armies and
American principles have already shak.
Ell every throne in Europe which has NO
made concessions to its subjects.
Our Constitution was not put into op
Grafton until ninty-six years g ant
some who were babes at the time ar,
alive to-day and are older thnn on,
great bulwark OF liberty. But what {
wonderful change has taken place dur
ing the short space Of our National exis
tcncc. But few people have n propet
conception of the extent of u territor,
the advantages Of our geographical stu
alton, the enormity of our mining ant
agricultural wealth, the vastness of on
scientific investigations and advance
mcnts, and the immensely of our luxu-
rious extra yngancc. Without thes,
United States, the Western CONT
would he poor indeed; without this new
world human kind would have n disma
prospect. Not only would the lands b,
insufficient, for their support, but thos.
noble incentives to self attainment which
our country alone bestows would not OK
list; worst Of all would be the absence o
n really free government Heavens hes
boon to man; for other governments nr,
not free in the same sense ms ours. /
Mexico free with her pcon government
Is France with her restricted prcss2
England has NJ average of nearly so
people to the square mile, the Unite,
States Of about Ritecn. Our territory /,
mere than four times greater than tina
OF Germany, France, and England com
bincd and when our country Is as thickl,
settled as the latter, we shall have a pop
ulation OF over 1900, 900, OOO-on,
which exceeds that Of the entire worl,
Mt the present time. Our lands too. III
in the best shape; North Of us the Win
tiers are too cold, south Of us the Sum
niers are too hot; aud the more We pop
ulatc and cultivate the soil the better th,
climate will become. In circumstnpc,