Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-07-05

Spanish Hon. W. B. Childers, OF Alb,l
querquc, was then introduced and delivered
an able and interesting Grafton. Ate
thanking the citizens vi Santa te for thei
unexpected invitation to ADDRESS them
he said:
Whether we trace our lineage to tn,
Maytlower, to jamestown, the Carolinas
or whether our citizenship resulted iron
the acquisition Of territory by treaty, Oh
that glorious American policy that has
welcomed to our shores ull who chose tc
come from every land and every cline, LEI
us remember to-day simply that we are
Americans! The instrument whose sign
ing We celebrate to-day, in the language
of one OF Mr.. Jetterson's bographers, lis
consecrated ia the affections of Americans
as praise may seem superti0us, censure
may be unavaling." But We make Of its
anniversary if We will a source OF patriotic
inspiration, beneficial to ourselves. John
Adams, one OF the committee
appointed to draft it, sanguine
that Americas purpose could not be
thwarted; that her spirit was invincible,
and conscious of the magnitude OF the
event, declared in advance that 1.-THE day
on which it is signed will be the most
memorable epoch in the history OF Amer
lea. am apt to believe that it will be
celebrated by succeeding generations as
the great anniversary festival. 1t ought to
be commemorated rs the day of deliver
ance by solemn acts of devotion to AL
mighty God. 1t ought to be solemnized
with pomp and parade, with shows,
games, sports, guns, bells, bontires and
Examinations from one end OF the coun-
try to- tho other from this time
forth forever more" And 80 In part
at least do we follow his suggestion
Let us try to derive lesson from the con-
ditions under which an act was done that
dismembered an empire and gave birth to
nation OF illimitable possibilities. The
tifty-tive men who transmitted their
names to the remotest generations OF pos
terity as the signers of that instrument
were the representatives of thirteen
colonies stretching along the Atlantic
coast, and containing scarce 100000 OF
people, by no means united, for every
where some, and ia many places strong
factions still adhered in allegiance to the
British crown.
My time does not suffice to contrast and
illustrate the difference in condition of
these 5000, 900 colonists and the America
of to-day. Indeed, difference in popula-
ton is but single circumstance. Love of
liberty and fidelity to principle, the result
of education and independence of action,
made these men what they were. When
they took this irrevocahle step they knew
the consequences, success or death.
Vixen they pledged their lives and sacred
honor, they meant what they said. Ed
mund Burke, in portraying the character
OF the revolutionary American, has attrib-
uted the result largely to the universal
study among them OF law and political
principles. He states in one OF his in
comparable orations that more copies of
Blackstone's Commentaries had been sold
in America than in the mother country,
and of their love and appreciation of prin-
ciple. Here they anticipate the evil and
Judge of the pressure of the grievance by
the boldness OF the principle. They
augur disagreement at a distance and
snuff the approach OF tyrany in every
tainted breeze" And this, my friends,
is the lesson for US to learn on this natal
day OF American independence from the
character and deeds OF our ancestors.
would enjoin upon you the characteristic
words OF Edmund Burke, the English
friend OF revolutionary America, the
patriot and the orator, in no narrow, par
tisan sense, but in the broad spirit that
gave them utterance, although, happily, |
We stand on no stage for heroic action.
Our heritage is q vast continent con-
secrated to liberty and peace and en-
dowed with all that tends to make and |
perpetuate the highest order of civiliza-
ton. Our duty is to keep it such as our
fathers transmitted to us. To do this let |
us at no time, and under no crcum- |
stances, fail to come to the rescue OF the |
grand fundamental principles they enun-
ciated in their immortal instrument, |
wherever its practice is threatened, from |
whatever quarter. Though to-day the
sufferer from such infraction may be an |
other, tomorrow it may be ourselves. |
Let US judge OF the pressure
Of the grievance from the holiness OF the
principle. Let us augur disagreement
at distance, whether our party or
our opponents are in power, and il not |
sure Of the approach OF tyranny, let us
apprehend the insidious step, the disin-
Iegratiug rot of corruption, in every
tainted public act. 1t is the little rift
that makes the music mute. If we are
thus true to our forefathers and the trust |
ior manhood transmitted by them 10 US,
his day will indeed be observed from one
end Of the continent to the other, from
his time forth forever more.
Applause and music followed Mr.. |
Childers' Grafton, and then Don Nestor
Montoya delivered mastery Grafton in
Spanish. He said:
The United States OF America set US a
noble example in this new world, which
vas emulated and followed Immediately
oy our sister republics south of the Bravo.
The heroes OF the war Of independence
proclaimed by the instrument which has
ust been read to you, that America was
~ its natural situation destined by the
Almighty to form mighty continent Of
rec people. That this was to be the asy-
um OF the oppressed OF foreign nations,
hat this was to be the haven and seat of
rec education, free institutions, free ideas
nd liberal government; no monarch was
o be recognized in this country except
he people, they are the sovereigns, and
hey sway the might and destinies of the
lation. In America to-day, as in the time
II the colonies, In every citizen is found a
patriot; while our little army does not
mount to more than 10000 men, yet in
:ase OF need and at the shortest notice by
call from our chief executive, 100000
volunteers would now, as in the time Of the
var of independence, be willing to sacri-
Ice their lives, their wealth, and pledge
heir sacred honor to preserve the integri-
y OF the land over which proudly floats
he glorious standard Of the stars and
tripes. |
In the war for independence we must
lever forget the noble, disinterested and
generous aid given us BY the sons of the
french republic, LAFAYETTE, Rochambeau,