The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-09
Speech of john M. O'Neill Deliv
cred at the Amphtrheatre,
July 4 1884.

with due pOmp the anniversary of that era
when America lifted from her youthful neck
| the yoke of foreign domination. England cele-
brates the birthday of her sovereign Germany
exults in her triumph at Sedan, Italy sends
forth her discordant shout to signalize the
mockery of her so-called unification. Since this
is so can the sons and daughters of young
Columbia be less ardent in displaying their love
of courage? Is there no vibrating chords in our
hearts to still unite us to this the land of our
nativity? Has America lost her beauty and her
brightness. or is there nothing to-day to which
we can turn with feelings of devotion and patr-
otic pride? Do We forget her now populous
cities her classic monuments and the variety
of beauty with which nature has adorned her
and on which painting and poetry hang with
rapture? All no! for We can benold through
the mirror of her history the battiefelds upon
which the banner of freedom either waved in
triumph or was laid low at the oppressor's feet
Four centuries have scarcely passed behind
the curtain of the past since America was an
unknown and undiscovered land But under
the bright blue canopy Of an Italian sky was
reared youth in whose inspired mind had
daWned the God given idea Of land across the
broad waters of the Atlantic. Ten long, dreary
weeks tempest-tossed upon an unknown sea
when the youthful Columbus planted upon our
verdantshores the symbol of Christianity. The
glad tidings was propagated to every cline
The dOwntrOdden and oppressed of all lands
looked with longing eyes across the waste Of
waters and beheld in the new world a haven Of
refuge where the star of hope would shine above
the cradle of the poor mans babe. But their
dreams of happiness and future prosperity was
but short-lived, England, the mother country,
upon whose broad dominions it is said the sun
never casts his last lingering rays arose upon
the lofty pedestal of her naughty arrogance and
demanded that the people of thirteen colonies
should be taxed without representation" 1t
was then that Virginia's youthful orator arose
in the magnitude of his intellectual proportions
crying out in the fiery language of patriotism
Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his
Cromwell, and George the Third may profit by
their example. If this be treason make the
most of it,
That glorious declaration enkindled in every
breast the flame of liberty which was to burst
into mighty irresistible conhagration that
would sweep from the soil of America the last
vestige of that government which attempted to
fasten upon the neck of young America the
yoke OF foreign subjugation. On all
sides could now be heard the
tramp of armed men. Again the clarion voice
of Patrick Henry arose above the gathering
storm Of approaching combat: "Give me
liberty or give me death" That never to be
forgotten sentiment issuing from the lips of
patriot. was grasped by three millions of people
whose prayers were invoking the hosts of out
ragged heaven to sw eep from the temple of just
ice that vile aud infamous tyranny which had
desecrated it by its diabolical presence. On the
ever memorable Fourth of July, 1776. that docu-
ment of human liberty was read and adopted.
Immediately the tngue Of that
old iron casting, suspended In the
tower of Fanuiel Hall had struck its iron
lips, proclaiming to the world the independence
of nation. The American people arose in
their united strength, with sword in hand,
knocked at the door of q British parliament
and demanded the independence of their native
land. Then. indeed. the whole world. hearing
the universal sentiment coming from an intelli-
gent people, deemed that 1t was the voice of
God. that Babylon of tyranny was over
thrown: America arose, redeemed and regener-
at=d and from her halls of Congress streamed
forth that eloquence which in after days dis.
tinguished Calhoun, Clay, and Webster.
The speaker then paid glowing tribute to
France, and said, whilst every true friend of
freedom rejoices that there is one land upon
this globe, and this is America. the land OF
promise, in which the ark If freedom and
patriotism shall securely and for ever rest;
whilst the glorious standard of independence,
the Star Spangled banner, shall be upl fled to
the breeze and its thirty-eight stars Of freedom
ever blaze forth in all the splendor of their
accomplishments. let it be the principle of
every American to remember the magnani-
nous generosity of an immortal Lafayette.
The speaker touched upon the principal points
Of history; touched upon the rebellion, and
said: the lat gun OF disloyality has been
fred; the chasm has been bridged by the hand
of friendship, may 1t be that this nation shsll
ever live in harmony and peace. Then as we
look down the avenue of the years that are to
come, we can berold America leading the
advancing nations OF the globe. We can be-
hold, placed upon her brow. a garland, whose
flowers have been plucked from all lands. We
can behold every Territory. with its vast
mountains Of mineral, and It's broad prairies Of
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