The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-06-27

dress of @. ID. Kressley, of New Mahon-
ing, at the above named college. Re
ported for the CARBON ADVOCATE by A.
H. Ginder, one of the students.
BLESSINGS OF AMERICAN LIBERTY.
We live in a land Of Liberty We enjoy many
blessings and privileges which are not enjoyed
by people living in countries which are ruled bN
king or queen, or in countries over which the
cruel tyrannical system is swayed, America is,
as it were, a safe harbor to all such as are driven
from distant lands, or are persecuted because
they wish to enjoy Liberty, or "Worship God
according tothe dictates Of Oftheirown conscience"
Many a weary pilgrim has found rest and liberty
on our American shore and protection under its
Stars and Stripes. In 1920, when the Mayf0wer
landed on the New England shore, its crew
found their homes to be cast among the barren
rocks of the Atlantic coast; but they were in a
a land OF liberty-the birds, the wild beasts, or
even the Red Men Of the forest, were evidences
that they had reached their destination-the
place where liberty reigned supreme, 1t is true,
they endured much at flrst but after Spring
came, the sky was so blue, the air so clear the
wind so refreshing, the temperature so cool,
that there was nothing left which they desired
for comfort or beauty. To this Band Of Pilgrims
we can with pride reflect, as the seed of our
American Freedom or Liberty. They planted
into our soil the germs of freedom almost three
centuries ago, from which sprung a nation which
is recognized to be the most glorious under the
sun. 1t stands, as 1t were, a bright and radiant
star, and all nations call it "The Star of the
West"
Mother England tried to keep us in bondage
and enslaye us by the cruel chains Of tyranny,
but the words of Patrick Henry "Give me
Liberty or give me DEATH" soimpressed George
Washington and his patriotic "Boys in Blue"
that they showed to her that they were born in
country of freedom, and that they were re-
solved to enjoy the blessings which were freely
granted. If ever good news filed this land of
ours or if ever patriotic hearts were kndled with
joy, it was on the morning of the Fourth of July,
l776. Sweet, indeed, were the tones that fell
from Liberty's Herald, filling every attentive ear,
and "Proclaiming Liberty throughout all the
land, unto all the inhabitants thereof" The
people reioiced for they knew that Freedom was
now, and that Right had conquered. It is true
our United States errs in some ways, but in spite
OF all this, we have every reason to be proud OF
our American government, freedom and
justice; yes, more than this, IL becomes our
solemn duty as intelligent and approaching
Americans, to feel grateful for the manifold
blessings of our own dear native land which our
foretather established with the spade and the
musket. The liberty which we are ENJOYING is
a conquest, and many drop of blood was sac
rihced in its behalf The richest results of our
liberty do not lie at the beginning Of civilization
but they lie at the end of it, They are the
choicest and rareSt fruits OF civilization. Our
tOretathers did not ENJOY the blessings which we
enjoy, but they conquered that we might be free.
Many a fathers hand was pressed, many a
mothers heart was wounded at the parting, be-
cause her son offered his patriotic devotion 10
Liberty. Let us no longer weep for the martyrs
q bnf sttsffI
the farest of flowers. Their battles are over and
they lie low and still. The last march is passed
ana their victory is won. Yes, they rest IN their
glory tlll Gods trump shall resound through the
skies. We rej0tce to know that we, their sons,
love our country Should war break out now
| our boys would be in the ranks, and IN a short
time there would be marshalled such mighty
host against which no nauOn would be able 10
Withstand, 70 battle for the right and strengthen
the bond OF brotherhood which links us together
as great people and makes us the flower OF
No American traveller returns from n tour
| through the Old World without deep sense OF
the wonderful privileges which he enjoys in his
own country. While In the departments OF arl
ana culture he finds America somewhat inferior
he also realizes with pride that in all the ele-
ments which nurture manhood and contribute
| to popular happiness, Europe is desert and
America I'D comparison paradise, We have
no King 70 enslaYe us; no czar TO Danish or to
| exile us into the cruel realms of Siberia We
| nave no slaves All are free to draw from tle
| fountain OF liberty which is freely offered. The
tree institutions of our lands is tue cause of this
distinction. Our free government, our churches.
our institutions OF learning, foster the welfare
| OF our people hence, multtudes OF Europe have
sought our shores so that they might enjoy life
We, as American citizens cannot fully apprec-
late our rare advantages and the blessings of
our American Liberty We're these blessings
lost, the worlds progress would be retarded
many generations. Let us, therefore, encourage
| true American sentiment as the antidOte to the
poison infused among us from foreign sources,
which threatens our liberty, and let our effort
be concentrated to the elevation of the Ameri-
can standard. Let us at each birthday of our
Republic pledge ourselves anew 10 be truer sons
and daughters. so that It win always be "a fresh
concentration of the people to the high object
Tor which the nation was bOrn-a strIcter obed-
lenee TO It's laws, greater incentive to brOtherly
love between citizen and citizen. and a realiza-
ton, on this broad continent between the oceans
OF a free human brotherhood, acknowledging
the fatherland IN Heaven. Truly, our govern
ment Is Government OF the people for the
people, and by the people, Under our c0nsti-
tuition every citizen moves on the same plain
II expressly declares that all men are free ana
equal; this fact alone places us in advance of
all other nations, who claim high standard IN
civilization, and makes our American people the
most enlightened, intelligent and enterprising
nation OF the 10Th century The original and
fundamental aim OF our Government Is freedom
10 all. Freedom M its base, freedom at its sum
mlt-lt stands here as mighty barrier to Keep