The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-06-07

list with
American Citizenship.
Another school year is past and an
other commencement is drawing to a
close. For four years we have been
laying the foundation of our future
lives and characters, and now, when
that foundation stands completed, 1T
seems fitting time to consider the
SuperStructure, whose erection is our
future work and duty.
The architecture Of that structure
will differ for each member OF this
class. The user of the finished build
ing will vary with the character, the
tastes, and the purposes of the indi-
vidual. But however varied and UNI
equal these may be, in one respect all
will stand equal, in respect to place.
All are fellow workers in the commun-
lty, members of the state, citizens.
No consideration is more solemn at
this time than that we now enjoy the
privileges and shall soon assume the
duties of citizenShip-Of American
citizenship. The privileges and rights
of an American citizen are such as to
make that name alone title Of honor
ana cause LOT pTluc.
A young lrishman, who witnessed
the reception given in honor OF King
Kalakaua, of the Hawaiian Islands, on
his visit to Chicago, turned from the
pOmp and ceremony OF the parade to
his companions and remarked, 81
would rather be free born American
citizen than King of the Cannibal Is
lands"
Among the foremost rights of
American citizenship are freedom of
thought, of speech, and of action.
Few comprehend the grandeur and
magnitude of these three privileges.
But take them away and their ines
Unable value becomes apparent.
Read history of the old regime in
France, when freedom of thought and
speech was unknown, and Self-direct-
ed action on the part Of the common
people was never dreamed OF. when
the King or barons could tear down
the peasants hut and turn the land
into hunting ground or park, and
the peasant dared not protest under
pain of Death. When the judges
bought their places and punishments
were left to their discretion. When
home, property, the honor of women,
all the most sacred rights of life, were
contemptuously trampled down, to
make way for the superior privileges
of mobiles and the divine right of
kings.
We turn with disgust from these
records of cruelty and injustice, and
with feelings of profoundest graft
tude, thank God that we are Ameri
can citizens, citizens of nation
where these rights are respected as in
no other natien of the earth. Citi-
zens of a nation to which the sons of
all other nations of the globe come,
laying down their burdens of Oppres-
sion, renOuncing forever all allegiance
to their native land, eager to become
citizens of state where rights are
equal, where life and thought and ac-
. ton are free.
Protection by the government is
paramount right of citizenship. In
no other nation are its citizens so
equally protected, without regard to
wealth or privilege Of class, as in the
United States. At home the Ameri-
can laborer is guarded by the law as
faithfully as is his employer, and his
humble cottage is even more secure
than the palaces of wealth. Let a
citizen of our nation. be he ever so
humble, receive insult or injury at the
hands of foreign country and the
power of the government is brought
to his aid, even to the extent of its
armies and its ships of war.
1t is his duty to enOble and make
better his fellow-citizens, and not to
violate the rights of others. 1t is his
duty to enOble and better himself by
education, by religion, by the study of
art, by labor, and by thorough I'M
Outstanding of affairs, in order that
he may be prepared to meet and cope
with the questions of the future.
The citizen who fails to discharge
these duties so far as in him lies is
not simply unpatriOtic: if American
born, he has violated sacred trust; if
foreign born, he has broken his con-
tract and spurns his privileges.
There IS to-day great demand for
true patriotic citizens. The growing