Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-07-06
THE GRAFTON.

MY FRIKNps;-The road from Bos-
ton to Lexington was long and peril
Gus; but Paul Revere was gallant
man, and he made gallant ride. The
sparks that flew from the feet of his
willing steed gave to his words of
warning thrilling force. He was the
messenger of Liberty to the men of
'76. He told of tho coming of an
armed foe. For them to be fore
warned was to be forearmed. They
were the "Minute men," and
quickly grouped in a common
cause, and that cause was the defense
of the rights of Freedom. The FIRE
that leaped from the ready threats Of
their waiting guns, upon the fields of
Concord and Lexington, lit up the
world, and hung upon the heavens
the rainbow of promise to all man.
kind. The crimson fow which fol-
lowed this FIRST shock OF contending
arms, but served to make boundless
its circle, to paint in purple and gold
its pinions and widen the sweep of
its sheltering wings.
Years of patient and loyal endur-
ance preceded that eventful ride, and
years Of suffering in which the souls
of our patriot sires were sorely tried
in the crucial of crimson war succeed.
ed. Lofty patriotism, conservative
craftsmanship upheld by stout hearts
and strong arms, successfully estab-
lished that great principle set forth in
the Declaration of independence,
that Gall men are created equal" In
commemoration of this triumph of
right over the wrong of centuries the
friends of Freedom throughout the
world rejoice, and with grateful pride
the people of the United States are
gathered to-day to celebrate the an
niversary of American Independence.
The rushing river of Time has
washed from beneath our feet the
sands of another year, and standing
in the dawn of limitless future we
find that We are that much nearer to
the bedrock Of free and enduring
Government. That Liberty from the
citadel of her strength upon our fos-
tering shores, shines out upon the
world, and reaches forth IN beauty her
sheltering arms to all mankind. To-
day we hear the pealing guns of a
praiseful present. We feel the inspi.
ration which impelled our fathers to
noble deeds, and we see the beckon-
ing hands of great future.
Loving and always loyal to my
country, looking with pride and up to
the Flag, regarding with reverence
the Constitution, standing in the pres
ence of this vast assembly OF freemen
and friends, l shall endeavor to con-
fine myself to the sweet old story of
our country told to US around patri-
otto hearthstones, and from the lips Of
honored fathers, who in turn had re-
ceived the story from their fathers,
who were the sires of Freedom and
into whose hands the experiment. OF
free government was intrusted for the
ages that are and those which are vet
to follow.
Remembering the past, and mind
full of its te, chings; knowing the
present, and cherishing its lessons; IN
dulging in the hope Of glorious
futurr, it is well that we to. day with
hearts of gladness and with songs of
JOY place upon the brow of Liberty,
AS she conscious bends, coronet
sparkling with the gems of gratitude,
pride and loyalty. As individuals we
turn to the homes of our birth, to the
days of our childhood, and recall with
increasing interest the incidents that
go to make up the history of our
times. We 60 further and learn OF
the circumstances and surroundings
OF our birth, the lives and purposes in
life OF our fathers, and with pleasure
and profit contemplate the lessons
taught by them, and cherish the mem
ory of all that makes them sacred.
However pleasant and however much
this may be duty, how much more
pleasant and how much more it be-
comes our duty as a Nation, which
represents the aggregate of individu.
ais, to contemplate the past, the birth
and life Of common country! When
we, remembering what we have been
and from whence we sprung, consider
what we are in the family Of Nations
and estimate what we are to be, with
what interest should every patriot dis
charge, as labor of love, the duties
imposed upon bis citizenship and her
ltage, made the more obligatory by
virtue of his direct responsibility in
the control of public affairs and the
added duty thr. he owes to his chill.
drcn and the generations that are to
follow. What day better, or so we'll
htted as this for US to meet face to
face and renew the assurances of our
devotion to the Stars and Stripes, and
with our names, our fortunes and our
sacred honor give bond to the future
Tor the preservation Of our blood.
bought country.
The United States of America-a
Government Of the people. bv the