Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-05


| grasping each other by the hand and looking
| each other in the eye, glory together in the
fact that we are Americans. To-day we are
only all brethren of one family, fellow coun.
trymen of Washington and Lincoln.
| But the Fourth of July spirit has relation
| not only to the present, but TO the future
anniversary day we must keep alive the
spirit of 1T76
| Wealth and luxury are apt to demoralize
| nations as they demoralize men.
successful government of the people i'm
| plies virtuous and intelligent people A
| virtuous and intelligent people implies vir-
tuous and intelligent individuals. 1t per
tains to every American, therefore, to see to
| it that he faithfully and conscientiously per
forms the duties of citizenship. In the
midst of our glorying we must not lose
social and political problems lie in
our pathway. Their proper solution
will tax the highest statesmanship, the
deepest philosophy, the most intelligent
that the responsibility of their solution
rests with him, and should act accordingly.
Let us then to-day, proud of our past,
thankful for our present, light anew from
the altar of patriotism the torch that shall
light us in the future along the pathway that
leads to the sturdy virtues and the correct
principles that have made us great and
shall make us yet greater.
Clarence Burleigh Springs Pun.
The chorus sang "Hail Columbia" after
which Mr.. Burleigh said: 'The school
master is everywhere needed in this great
country, and we ara lucky to have one with
US to-day. Let me introduce to you Super
intendent George j. Luckey, of the public
schools" The pun was applauded, and
then Mr.. Luckey made q brief speech. He
said:
1t is possible for monarchy to exist long
after its people have ceased to love it, but
not so republic. 1t is the individual ap-
probation of freedoms blessings that pre-
serves our Government This feeling is de-
veloped in our youth. 1 cannot say that
see the relation between shooting crackers
and patriotism, but it is there all the same
and each youngster as he pops his little ex-
plosives in the street is learning lesson of
celebrates.
The speaker concluded with the story of
boy whom he once asked who were the
greatest five Americans. The little fellow
replied: "George Washington, Thomas
Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, u. S. Grant
and the Fourth of July"
The band then played an overture from
civilian Tell, which excited a. round of
applause from the audience.
Mr.. Burleigh then said: 'gThe next
speaker who will address you is Chan
cellor. For my part l do not know what a
Chancellor is. have the pleasure of in
u L
d., DID, Chancellor of the Western Uni
versity of Pennsylvania
Chancellor Holland spoke as follows:
FELLOW C1TIzENs-For the purpose of
illuminating the darkened understanding of
my friend, Mr.. Burleigh, as well as to convey
to your minds bit of useful information,
permit me to say that Chancellor, accord
ing to the etymology of the word, is "the
chief clerk" The term has a somewhat
varied significance, according to the func-
my case 1 may be permitted to say that 1
hold the title under the charter of the West
ern University, as the equivalent of the
name president" hope Mr.. Burleigh now
understands the matter.
Chancellor Holland Charges Robbery.
Before 1 go step further, fellow citizens,
have powerful confession to make to
you. Last night, when 1 seated myself to
prepare for the present occasion, opened
volume of the published correspondence of
John Adams, the second President of the
United States, and one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence, and chose as
the text of my speech the passage which my
honored friend, Mr.. Dalzell, quoted at the
outset of his oration. 1 feel that have been
robbed of one of the best thunderbolts had
in my culver. But suppose must make
the best of the situation.
As we reflect upon these words of Presi-
dent Adams, we cannot fail to be impressed
with the thought that he was possessed of
quality of mind SURPRISING mere Yankee
shrewdness. He was gifted with prophetic
instinct. He had risen to the heights of !
vision, which is given only to the poets and
seers of mankind to tread. And have been
led to consider what was the character, not
only of the author of these words, but of
those associa ted with him in the memorable
transaction we are to-day met to celebrate
in the very way he foresaw more than a
hundred years ago. In studying the charac-
fact that they were in the highest Sense
patriots. Whatever other noble traits of
mind and heart they may have possessed,
they were actuated by the spirit of the most
variously defined There have been those
who have degraded it in their thought to
simple adhesion to the dictates and tenets
of a party. 1t has been regarded by some as
a modification of that sentiment which We
speak of as '1ove at home" But
true patriotism is more than the attachment
which a man feels for the spot in which he
was born, and in which the lines of his life
have been cast. If we retain the time-honored
definition of patriotism as 'love of ofcountry''
we must construe the latter word in wider
The patriot is not merely a man
who is attached to the place in
which he lives, but who loves those associ
ated with him as the inhabitants of the same
place. The patriot is a man who loves his
fellow citizens, who is devoted to their well
fare, whose purpose is to defend and pro-
to preserve for them in order to this end all
and agencies capable of being
employed as instruments of good to the peo- |
pie; ana OF destroying and putting out of the
path everything that initiates against ma
tional honor and welfare. The thought of |
selfsacrificing devotion and
loyalty to the principles of truth
and of justice enters into the conception of
true patriotism.
Not Statesmen for Revenue Only.
Tested in the light of these state
ments we discover that the men of
l776 were in the highest sense patriots.
No man can read the private CORES
pondence and public utterances of the |
men who signed the Declaration of Inde- |
pendence without feeling they were actuated |
by the loftiest sentiments of devotion to |
their fellow men and by a most unselfish |
spirit. They were not statesmen "for reye-
nue. only The interest thev took in public |
affairs was not founded upon the desire to |
secure the honors and the emoluments |
of public office, or legislative concessions |
which would put wealth into their pockets
When they resolved to utter the Declaration |
of Independence they sta1ed in the act, as |
they well knew, 'their lives, their fortunes |
ence of President Adams is letter he wrote |
to DR.. Rush, of Philadelphia, in which he |
gives an account of his early connec- |
tion with the Revolutionary movement. |
He says: "When l went home to my fam
lily in May, l710 from the town meeting in |
Boston, which was the first had ever at |
tended, and where had been chosen in my
absence, without any solicitation, one of |
their representatives said to my wife: 4 |
have accepted a seat in the House OF Rep
and thereby have consented to
my own ruin, to your ruin and the ruin of
our children. 1 give you this warning, that
you may prepare your mind for your fate'
She burst into tears, but Instantly cried out |
in transport of magnanimity: We'll, am
willing in this cause to run all risks with
you, and be ruined with you, if you are
rsr
Such were the men and women of the Rev
olution, and it is well for us to keen the
of their lives and deeds green in
our hearts forever. They were actuated by