Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-05

Americans who meet to celebrate the
greal national anniversary. Upon this
day the heart of every true American
should swell with national patriotism
uncircumscribed by state or local
bounds, unmindful of state or local
allegiance 1t was the acknowl-
edged weakness OF the separate colonies,
each acting in their own behalf without
concert of action, without national
compact, without declared community
of interests, that induced the selection OF
the colonial delegates who composed
Americas first congress. Those colonies
felt the inherent weakness OF struggling
states without q bond OF union save
their common oppression. Thus origin
ally for protection. was the seed sown
from which grew and ripened this splen-
did national fruition. The results thus
attained by that union, the heritage we
have received through it, should be our
joy and our pride this day. The indie
pendence OF the American colonies was
not scheme born of ambitious states
manship, nor the outgrowth of strug
gle for personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT among
its promoters. 1t was the work of a
been seeking separation from their
worthy motives the repeal OF the odious
stamp act would never have been re-
ceived with such universal Joy and
patriotic enthusiasm. Had these colo
nists been rebels at heart, opposed to
good government, ungrateful for salutary
legislation, history would never have
recorded the erection of that monument
to Geore III at New York, commemora-
tive of his assent to that appeal. As |
have said, the revolution and separation
of the colonies was the outgrowth of q
necessity begotten OF criminal neglect
and selfish greed. These American sub
jects OF Great Britain many of whom
had LETT their native land with the
promise and encouragement OF govern
mental aid and assistance, were
not adventurers seeking the de-
structiOn OF organized government,
nor were they conspirators against their
mother country; on the contrary, their
every impulse and action was guided by
sincerely patriotic motives. Their great
est boast was that they were British sub
jects, loyal, true and brave. Many of
their friends and kindred had met SOL
dier's fate upon ''the plains of Abraham"
in defense of the British flag, under the
leadership of "the intrepid Wolfe. -
Many had formed part of that living
wall of provincial soldiery who, under
their own Washington, covered the in
glorious retreat of British regulars "at
Braddock' defeat" They were provin-
cials, it is true, but none the less brave
men and loyal subjects, and not until
they were alienated from their parent
country by unjust and tyrannical legis-
lation did they consent to the final act
of separation by their declaration of
national independence. The causes
which led to and made the promulgation
OF this declaration of independence a
necessity are matters of familiar history
to every American.
The thirteen colonies, with their out
lying territories, whose independence
had been acknowledged formed small
part of our present public domain.
They were bounded upon the west by
the Mississippi and upon the south by
the thirty-first parallel. Where we
stand today, the whole OF our beau
tiful state, was then part of the
vice-regal domain of Charles III.
of Spain, its citizens, his subjects in
theory only, were the ancestors of these
American children of the DESERT who
are our honored guests today. England
north OF the colonies, made claim to that
north OF the Spanish dominions in the
west, and before score of years had
passed from the recognition of indepen-
dence, English statesmanship began to
devise means by which they might re-
gain that "gem of the British crown"
which American valor had wrested from
them. Through threatened war with
France, she sought to acquire what was
known as the Louisiana territory, that
mighty plain within which is now
contained fourteen states of our
union. The speaker closed by say
ing: In view OF all our national priv
ileges which we possess, is it necessary
to explain why the citizens Of this re-
public set apart this day, abandon busi-
ness and employment and consecrate it
to the glorification OF American institu-
tions, American grandeur and Ameri-
can freedom? There is, there
can be, no stronger proof of
our national strength than such
outpourings of the populace as we see
here today, not alone oSLhose who claim
America by right of bTrth, but intelli-
gent men and women gathered from
every part of the globe-from "sunny
Italy" from 'the land of the midnight
sum-" from ''the slopes Of the Pyrenees, -
from the gardens OF Japan" from "the
banks of the Rhine" and "the green
fields of old ireland" they come,
OF every race and kindred, at
tracted to free America bv
the charm of that word "Liberty." They
have renounced allegiance to the land
of their birth, and with those who pride
in American nativity join in singing
praises to the patriots and martyrs who
suffered and died that we might enjoy
in all its fullness and greatness the
blessings of a free and popular govern
ment, whose foundation was laid by the
signers OF the declaration of independ-
ence.
Mrs. j. N. Hamer read a selection en-
titled Independence Bell" which was
well received by the audience. Gamer
ica' was then sung and the benediction
pronounced, concluding the ceremonies
OF the occasion.
The Battalion Drill.
1t was unanimous vote among the
spectators who witnessed the procession
yesterday morning that the six compan-
les OF the National Guard who took part
made one of the most inspiring features
OF the entire parade. In the afternoon
they contributed in no small degree to
the entertainment of the visitors in the