The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-05

uaeAsEound lar enough in the rear
to leave the people free from molesta-
ton As they fled in at one gate the
omcers OF the day entered from Spring
street and took their places on the stand.
The central figure was Hon. Z. o. Graves,
the president, supported by Mayor White.
Kew. u. 7. Garrett, Rev. 8. A Bright and
Coionel James Leddy. Around him were
Mayor Grant, Of Victoria, Colonel Holmes,
Captain Jones. Captain Ogilvie, Mr.. jacob
Furth, Major Rinehart, Judge Richard
osoorn, aldermen and delegates, city
off1ciais. Consul Myers, Messrs. d. z.
Durle. u. ii. Gilman and many others,
most OF the guests, in fact, accompanying
the oincers TO the grounds A very large
NUMBER OF ladies were in the audience and
were OFTEN much quicker than the men in
their applause and appreciation of the
points made by the speakers, although
gu were remarkably attentive. The ora
tion was listened to with rapt interest,
ana IL was evident that the speaker had
aroused the thoughts of people about
MIN, although he was not always re-
waroed by unanimous cheers.
Inc FIRST Regiment band played lively
ar while the audience were getting into
their places.
President Graves was complimented by
burst of cheering as he stepped forward
to open the proceedings. He said:
Lodscs and Ps.loV CI,izens: regret 20 an
nonnee that IN consequence of i'll heslth our dis
uhsulsaed fownsman, Governor Ferry, who had
very appropriately been chosen as president OF
the day, is unable TO be with u.s. In his absence
tne oisagrsesbls duty has devolved upon me of
presiding over this patriotic sssemblage and Of
"eicoming 10 the Queen City her Invited guests
on THIS, our nations holiday. In the name OF
the people OF this fair city bid her guests vel
come and invite them to Join with Us in cele-
bratlng the day of Independence IL is good
thing, fellow citizens, 10 commemorate the glor-
lous day on which were laid the foundations of
THIS great nation OF ours. ltis well that once .
year we should pause in the hurry and struggle
oil our usual ayocations and recall the deeds OF
that band OF patriots, who lis years ago today,
with courage aud faith unequaled in their
sublimity declared "thst the united colonies
were and OF right ought 10 be free ana indie
pendent states" / hope that we may draw
something of patriotic inspiration from the ex-
ereises OF the day and go to our homes with rs-
newed faith in popular institutions and in the
destiny of the great republic.
When the applause had subsidized, Mr.
Graves introduced Rev. David Claiborne
Garrett, and the vast assemblage stood
with uncovered heads while he invoked the
blessing of the Almighty upon the nation
whose natal day was being celebrated by
over 10000. 900 of people.
When the strains of the air which fol-
lowed had died away, Colonel James Leddy,
with much Impressiveness and in clear,
ringing voice that could be heard TO the
outer verge of the crowd, read the Declare
ton of Independence.
Rev. S. Alonzo Bright, pastor of the
First Methodist Episcopal church, broke
in upon the solemnity of the formal pro-
ceedings by his opening words. Referring
to the form of address used by Mr.. Graves,
he said:
Mr. President: Perhaps, as I came from Wyo-
ming need not say "ladies and iellow-citizens"
but "fellow-citizens' only, because in wyoming
ladies are also fellow-ciuzens.
The ladies laughed and the men ap-
plauded, but many shook their heads
deprecatingly. The speaker then proceeded
with the Grafton:
Had it been q sermon requested of me today
should certainly have chosen q text, what
Hath God Wroughtf" / should have chosen this
sentiment as q foundation for the reason that
believe no sane man can study the history of
this nation Of ours without seeing Gods hand
in the aggregstions composing these United
States
should have chosen it also because OF what
has been accomplished. You must remember
as we come 70 this hour OF commemorstion that
we are hardly started on our second century,
and believe the world agrees today that We ara
q nation. Where in all history has there been
parallel achievement? You remember that il
took Rome 800 years to die-longer to die than
we have lived.
In making our estimates today we must also
kaa~ in ind hat w her 6ar
on the Atlantic seabcard il was declared that
these colonies are free, an experiment was
launched upon the current OF history. No gov
eminent had as yet existed in all history in
which there were not hereditary classes snd en-
tailed wealth. From whence came the wisdom
thst made as the cornerstone Of this new ma
tion the absolute equality of every man before the
law: know that il has been the custom to go 20
the overgrown sristocrscies of Greece and Rome
TO find the germ Of this idea. This. however,
deem to be sn error. There was such thought
regnant or inherent in those misealled republics.
They were only popular governments in name.
To my mind you get this idea. not in germ but
full aeiged, from the lips of the apostle when
he saws, "For verify / perceive of truth that
God is 10 respecter OF persons" And herein Is
one of the secrets of our stability-our govern
ment is an exploitation OF the God idea And
so long we are true 10 that idea We are safe.
take itthat you are not here today for retro
spection. Memory becomes the entertainer
when life is behind largely, and when there is
more of the backward look than the forward i
hardly believe this the case among those who
have grapplei with the problems presented in
making homes on this Coast Our faces are
still to the 'front.' and we are expecting 10 see
still greater Thugs accomplished. Hence the
look hope TO be able 10 assist you in taking
shall be around and before US.
History is chiefly valuable as furnishing
(Consinaed on Page s.