The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-05
WOODSTOCK CELEBRATES
ORATIONS BY GEN. HOWARD AND
MURAT HALSTEAD.


Preservation Of ihe Peop s Inherit
anca.
WOODSTOCK, Conn, July 4.-Henry
C. Bowen gathered distinguished COM
psny of American orators at Resell Park
to-day for participation in the Fourth Of
July celebration. Congressman Charles
Russell Of Connecticut welcomed the
orators and spectators on behalf of
Mr.. Bowen, and then introduced Joseph B.
Hawley as president of the day. Gen. Haw-
Joys speech was brief. He insisted that
every immigrant must become a true and
thorough American. Gen. o. O. Howard
was the next speaker. lie said:
In these days when men are devotinR them
selves so engrossingly to material thoughts and
material interests, and TO appear TO care less
and less for the record of fundame ntal principles,
it would be especially wise to pause and inquire
why this national holiday was ever eStaonsuedy
What principles were enunciatad that day?
Who were the great men assembled to legislate
and publish a declaration which grows brighter
and stronger and more helpful 70 our people
and to the rest of manSind as the years 10 by?
The answer to those questions are simple. Il
is what parents in America should always tell
their children
!. This national holiday was established to
celebrate the independence Of this natiOn-the
beginning of it. A government uneXampled
in the security it gives to human liberty and
human rights sprang, directly as the branch
springs from the vice, from this declaration.
Tho Independence Day is intended to secure
happy recognition of the benefits and blessings
of this superb government.
:. Inc principles Enumerated may De cOmpre-
hended in Abraham Lincolu's concise state
ment; IL is 1.-THE government of the people by
the people and for the people"
Let the people rejoice then, especially on this
birthday, that they govern; that they govern
themselves. Let the children rejoice that the
inheritance of this self government is rich,
pansive. abundant; and that it is all their own.
g. The great men who, under God, made the
declaration, were in congress assembled in In
dependence hall of the old Pennsylvania state
house, Philadelphia. The first name signed is
the president of the congress, John Hancock,
who at the peril Of his life, wrote his name In
such plain letters that it could not be mistaken
by friend or foe.
Adams, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Charles
Carroll, Thomas jefferson, Richard Henry Lee.
BENJAMIN Harrison, and others down to Thomas
Hayward Jr. Fifty-six In all, noble names,
worthy slres OF strong nation!
They had the courage of Joshua whom the
Lord strengthened when, in the face of vast and
unknown perils, ne seld 10 mn; Havs not
commanded theei Be strong and Of good cOur
age; be noe at aid, neither be thou dismaYed;
tor the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever
thou goest."
signers, tniukinR the declaration would be
made two days sooner, wrote:
The second of July, 1915, will be the most
memorable epoch In the history Of America; to
be ceebrated by succeeding generations as the
great American festival, cOmmemorated as the
day of detverance from one end OF the continent
to the other, from this time forward forever
more"
But the declaration was not adopted till July
T. Hence the prophetic day, the day of power
and glory, passed on from the second to the
world-Tenowued Fourth of July.
In 1716 It took logger time for news to pass
from Washington to Boston then it does now,
even by steamers To 90 from New York to
London or Paris.
After Washington had taken command in the
vicinity Of Boston, and put everything in that
neigh0orhood into sale condition for the future
be turned bis face toward the Hudson TO meet
new diftic ulties and dangers in that quarter.
He was in the city OF New York about Aug. l.
1176, and there first received the gratifying in
tellgence that congress, representing the PEG
pie, had actually broken loose from the mother
country, aud that the Independence Of the
United States had been declared by a public
resolution on the preceding Fourth Of July.
Though everything depended on the success of
his arms in the defense of this new position
yet the Declaration OF Independence itself ap.
peared to him vantage ground, and greatly
reioced his patriotic heart.
THE POEM.
The poet of the occasion, Mr. Maurice
Thompson, was not present. In his absence
the poem was read by Mr.. Clarence Bowen.
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.
BY MAURICE THOMPSON,
Worn out, they say, is freedoms shell,
Her chords can please no more:
Silent the tongues that used 10 tell
Her praises DER and Ger
Far back lin years remote it seems)
When patriot hearts were young,
Our couhtry's flag was in our dreams
And freedoms songs were sung.
July the fourth-that magic date
Giants did coniure by,
AS one by one the stars of state
Flamed through the morning sky.
What men we had-how strong their hold
On stalwart Liberty!
Cast in what fiawless hero mold
Those leaders OF the free!
The hand Of Heaven reached down and sealed
The scroll of Jefferson;
The world rang like a stricken shield
When WebSter's speech was done.
There was pause when Phillips rose,
start when Greeley wrote;
Then Whittier's verse and Lincoln's prose
The heart of Duty smote.
The guns of Gettysburg roared loud
Upon our Sacred Hill;
The flashes from that battle cloud
We're bolts of Freedom will.
When patriot Grant from knightly Lee
Received the truant sword,
Upon its hilt hung Freedom key,
Stamped with Hopes latest word.
So soon forgot9 Is life so cheap
Is gratitude name?
Co. children, wake the guards who sleep
Around the tower Of Fame
Fling out our Flag to veil the sun,
Let Texas vie with Maine,
And Shiloh cry to Lexingston
Ger mountain, stream and plain!
,JuIv tha fourth th;s IL tho dav-
Let all the cannons roar
Let bells ring loud, let trumpets bray
And let our Eagle soar!
That glorious bird still has the right
To show the world cur shield
To stir the stars along its flight
Acl osS the heavenly field.
Let dull aristocrats reprove
And at our fervor sheer;
lhef never saw our armies move
Or heard our soldiers cheer
we are but simple followers
VI Washington and Lee;
lhe merest breath of memory stirs
Our deeps of loyalty.
Our hearts must keep (what Ia good faith
Our fathers kept beforel
OQr country first, In lie or death,
Honored forever more.
Cnauncey NJ Depew, Senator Aldrich
ana william Mckinley also spoke, and then
iolloWed Nurat Halstead on 1.-THE preserva.
Uon OF the peoples Inheritance"
PRESERVATION OF THE PEOPLES INHEBT-