The Meeker herald., 1891-02-28
Wsshingson's IsirshAay.

The birthday OF the man who was
FIRST in war, first In peace, and first In
the hearts OF his countrymen,h was
observed In appropriate and patriotic
style In Meeker on last Monday. The
exercises were under the auspices OF the
school children OF the district, and the
program, published in last weeks HER.
AID, was carried out to the editication
md entire satisfaction OF the large AS
sembiage Of citizens present.
In addition To the readings, recita-
tons, essays and music by the scholars,
number OF the older folks took part,
short addresses wers made by Messrs.
W. II. C4ark aud +. n. Jobantgen.
Mr.. II. S. Attix delivered q lengthy
written address (which will he found
elsewhere In this issuel, and County
Superintendent foreman's remarks
were Instructive. forcible and sppro-
priats To the occasion. Rev. Mr. Brit
ton conducted the devotional part of the
exercises nnd Mr.. Y. r. Foidlinm's
presence added much To the musical
part Of tho program.
The principal feature Of the iay's tx
ercises and the one which aroused
most interest, was the presentation 0f u
very handsome United States flag To the
schools. The children themselves
rAsssed the money by public subscrip-
ton. and We believe IL is the iirst in
stance on record where 10, Of school
children have, through their own ef-
forts, purchased and presented 10 a
public school the national colors. Mr..
&. ". Foreman made the presentation
speech. which was appropriate 10 the
occasion. Among other thing Mr..
Foreman SAID:
There are many things the child
must be taught 10 make u good ci,i.
zen OF him. lie must bc laugh, the
nature OF the government. lie must
bs taught the responsibility Of each in
dividual within the government to pro-
tect Its principles and It's prosperity
against the rapinc OF designing dcma.
the armed invaders from without. lie
must bc taught that our country does
not coniinc It's limits nor Its welfare Ia
any one portion: that II knows no sec.
uonai barriers; no North. no South. no
East. no West. that II II one from
many, united and indivisiblc now and
forever. lie must he taught that every
true American citizen makes his coun.
Try . honor his own homo, aud eii-tish-s
II ~ sacred. and Is willing. l: need IT,,
Ia risk his life In It's defense. Then ic;
our object bc our country. our whole
country. and that country will continue
tn bc the vast and splendid monument
II Is. not OF oppression aud i-tiuf. but
OF wisdom, oi peace. and oI liberty.
us-oa Witch tile wi.al. ~"ssL ".as sssss
4axa with ulvious admiration.
In order to these ends. wr must have
some insignia of our greatness. some.
thing We can behold with love aud rev
ctancc, and We choose our iil.. Our
dag that means all now that our
fathers meant In the Revolution. that
means all ,ha, the Declaration OF indie
lrndcnec meant. all that the Cons;itu-
lion %. our Iroplc. ot.an!sci Tot justice.
Tor liberty, and for happiness meant.
This ia: carries American ideas.
American history and American feel.
inss. l; carries the divine ris!.: o: !.o-
ctty In man.
Every color means liberty. every form
Of star and every beam Of light mean,
liberty. Long may ii live over this free
Republic the pruudcsi emblem Of law.
OF honor. Of freedom In the whole
world.
".Accrp, 1t. then, In all the fulincss Of
its meaning. II is not u simple rag. Il,
is u whole national history. II Is tho
Constitution. II Is the emblem Of the
power and the sovereignty OF the pso'
pic. II Is the Government II Is the
Nation"