The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-07-13
Address or W. .. GOuBE THE
EHERcIsES ON JULY 4TH.

w "o'"id-oi the Grafton delivered
oy w. s. Godbe at the exercises on the
4th inst. The gentleman was given but
~ minutes in which to prepare his ad.
dress. but for the delivery of which the
exercises would nave dragged heavily.
and we think it reflects great credit on
Mr.. Goddess ability to adapt himself on
short notice to the situation surrounding
him.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen.
This Is indeed an suspicious occasion!
The 18th anniversary of American In.
dependence has come. and we have met
IN this beautiful chamber of the noun.
tains to celebrate it. Not with vanity.
self love, or boasting, should we assem-.
ole TO commemorate so glorious an event,
but with breasts aglow with patriotism,
and hearts full of gratitude to Almighty
God, impressed withal by an. earnest de.
sire to appreciate the blessings of civil
liberty, to the end that we may discharge
our duties better as citizens of this grand
Republic.
What, it may be asked, is the basis of
true patriotism? Does it consist in tn.
vast extent and unprecedented richness
OF our country, with its sixty millions
inhabitants; or is it to be found in on,
strength of arms and extraord,par,
power Of rvaton or defense? Tn.
answer is, by no means. These undoubt.
eddy are important factors in their way,
but we must look higher for the source
and sustaining power Of the patriotism,
that is destined to secure to the perpetu.
alton of our free institutions.
Nations have arisen and conquered the
world by force. time and again, but they
could not endure. History is filled with
their conquests, their rise and fall, their
birth and death. Why then, may no,
history repeat itself with us, as some do
not hesitate to predict? 1t is because
this government is the first one that rests
wholly upon the principle Of equal human
rights; government of the people,
the people, and by the people. All othel
governments have been conceived in am.
bitioD, born 10 blood, and maintained by
brute force, and for the most part are 90
maintained at the present time. Verify,
1t is sublime truth that underlies and
gives stability to our institutions; name.
ly, the inherent right of man to be free.
He came from the same Divine source.
endures the same trials, and goes to the
same inevitable beyond.
But let us not be unduly elated at the
mere enunciation of this principle, glor.
ous as it is, for it was not born to the
world for the first time in l776, but is as
eternal as truth itself. The perpetuation
of our Republican institutions in their
integrity depends not upon the Declare.
ton of Independence, the Constitution
of the United States, or the sublime
heroism and bravery of its founders; but
must rest absolutely on the patriotism.
goodness and intelligence of the peopl.
themselves. From them the principle OF
human equality must find deep response,
and in their Utmost hearts, its restinu
place must be found.
Yet more than patriotism in its &C.
cepted sense is wanted from the Ameri.
can people; for it is not to US only that
this country, with its superb vastness Of
domain, and inexhaustlble wealth, has
been bequeathed as an everlasting inner.
itance, but to the whole human race.
Upon US, then, my fellow citizens, is i'm.
posed the responsibility of this sacred
trust. This fair land, with its ten thous,
and temples dedicated to freedom, with
its historic page already bright with the
record of unprecedented achievement, is
ours, to mould and influence FIR the pres.
ent only, then to be transmitted, beau i.
fed and enriched, to those who shall fol.
low in our wake, and take up the charge
when we, bent with age, and wearied
with toll, can carry it no longer. In the
light of this idea, what tongue can tell,
what mind can grasp, the Divine sispiti.
canoe OF this government Of man, by
man, and for mans eternal uplifting!
Ascending to the loftiest heights of pa.
triotism, let us not stop there, but con.
tinue upward and onward until our clari.
fed visions shall behold from afar all ma.
tions and all peoples, and awakening to
real cation Of the truth that they, too,
are our kin, bone Of our bone and flesh Of
our flesh; then will our hearts expand,