The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-07-06
THE GRAFTON.


The vast procession formed in front
of the speakers stand and after music
by the band Judge Bennett called on
Rev. G. w. Curtis to lead in prayer, af-
ter which the declaration of independ-
ance was read, with very clear and dis
tinct enunciation by Mr.. John Michel,
editor of the Times -Mountdineer. After
more music by the band Judge Bennett
introduced the orator of the day Hon.
C. w. Fulton of Astoria. Mr.. Fulton
commenced by saying that he was in.
favor of the celebration of Independ-
ance day, and of every thing connected
with it from the fat man and plug ug-
lies up. Every American boy should be
told the history of his country aDd of
her struggles for freedom. They should
be made familiar with the history of
revolutionary times and of the heroes
who took part in it. Iwould teach them
the history of Washington-not partic-
ularly the hatchet story-that | would
reserve till they should become members
of the common council or of the legis-'
lature, but / would have told them of
the dark clouds that gathered over our:
nation when internal foes sought its de-
strpction and by what means these
clouds were finally dispelled until now
we possess the blessings of ''Union and
liberty, now and forever, one and insep-
arabic" The day we celebrate is of pro-
| found interest to every, lover of the
country, lis years ago, first called the
United States of America. We, of the
present generation are specially privil-
eyed to celebrate all the leading anniver-
saries connected with the birth of a ma
ton that excells every other nation on
earth in everything from a sweet potatoe
to a cyclone. / believe it is right to
have day specially devoted to the Civ
ing vent to our patriotism and as good
!! champagne is known by its effervessing
qualities SO our patriotism may be meas
i ured by the exuberance with which we
celebrate. / believe in the American
/ eagle, and I love to hear it scream; and
j / believe in the stan spangled banner
that has f1oated over our nation for the
past lis years, the emblem of our lib
| erty which is growing grander and grand
er as the years roll BY, 1rbelieye that
American manhood Is the aggregation of
all that is best of the earth's population
and that American ladies are only equal
to themselves, they only need wings to
be angels, and these we don't want
them to get yet awhile. l am no pessi-
mist. 1.don't believe that all honesty
is gone from the earth and that the peo-
1 pie of former generations were better
tlaan those of today. / have no doubt
that many of those whose names we are
proud to honor would have been as hard
to tackle in horse trade AS some of
their descendants. believe that gem
Grafton that set free four hundred mil
I. lions of human slaves is better than the
generations that kept them in bondage
and when after four years of fratricidal
4 strife we can thus meet to celebrate a
Union still maintained or when people
can be reused to the cry of suffering and
distress as in the Johnston's disaster or
! yellow fever in the south or the Seattle
and Spokane fire, / believe we have a
proof that the world is getting better.
But looking back upon the past we
must admit that there have been defects