The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-05
MR.. STEvENSON'S GRAFTON.
, FOURTH OF JULY Address TO THE
CITIZENS OF PEORIA.

The Distinguished Iliinois Democrat Dvens
Upcn che Meaning OF tho Great I.ibsrty
Day and Speaks Glowingly OF the Futurs
orthc Country-uis Prophecy.
PEORIA. July 4.-The Hon. Adlai T. Steven.
son delivered the Fourth OF July grafton here
to-day and was greeted by thousands OF citi.
IONS lie received an ovation while passing
through the streots and before and after his
address, He said:
"FErlow CITIZENS: accept with pleasure
tho courteous invitation of Judge worthington
and Of your committee to address you to-day.
for the reason that desire to meet and min
clio with the people OF O county which has
made such signal contribution to tho material
prosperity Us we'll as the glorious history OF
This great State. We celebrate to-day the
Fourth OF July. For 116 years It has been
with our people. either as colonists or as a
10 come 1t will stand out on the record OF the
worlds history rs the birthday Of great re-
public. Nations yet unborn will read with ad-
miration and with awe of the men who on this
day. In this now world. without the light OF OK
perience to guide them. carved out q new gov
ernment
ut is not m et that this anniversary should
pass unnoticed. It Ia not meet that this. the
birthday OF American liberty. should pass un-
bcralded into history. Ono hundred and six
tecn years ago thirteen American colonies.
less than three millions in population. scat
tered along tho seaboard from New Hamp-
shire to Georgia, without army or navy.
unaided by wealth or foreign alliance.
suddenly and forever sundered the ties
which bound them to the mother country.
Looking back Mt this act from tho standpoint
OF o century's distance. in holiness and
49, L. ILL l.
history. 1t will 60 down all the ages In his
tory and in song linked with the gallant strug-
giles OF all people. in all times. for civil and re-
ligious freedom.
THE last remnant Of Poland's defenders ar
rayed against the hopeless odds OF her OPP
pressors. counting death rather than survive
their countrys liberty. excite our highest ad-
mirntion: while history has few brighter
pages than that which tells Of the last stand
md glorious death OF Leonidas and his Spar
tan band ut the Pass OF Thermopylae. Tho
glory Of such heroism belongs exclusively to
no age or country. It is part Of the common
heritage Ct our race. Whenever aud where-
ever in the worlds history any people have
struck blow against tyranny. 1t has been
against odds and without counting the cost
INDEPENDENCE HALL IN 1776.
Let us turn for q moment to tho CONT
mental Congress- assembled in Independence
Hall in Philadelphia on the fourth day Of July.
1776 One act OF insult and oppression upon
the part Of the Grown toward the colonies had
followed another in rapid succession. until the
time had come when the representatives
OF tho colonies were to decide in favor Of
abject submission to tyranny or to resolve
to DO foreverfree and independent Upon the
one side were the tics OF country and q
common ancestry: upon the other. rebellion
against the mother country and the COM
mencement OF struggle the end OF which no
man could foretell.
Upon tho one side unqualified submission
to the dogma Of the divine right OF kings"
upon the other war with the greatest nation
Of the globe. with independence as the prize
OF victory and with defeat as surely the FORE
runner of infamy and death.
"The men who signed this declaration were
unmindiul Of the grave responsibilities which
they assumed. 1t was no rash act upon their
part They we'll know that Great Britain would
never permit these colonies to DO wrested
rom her grasp without struggle. They we'll
knew England with her untold wealth. her
powerful army. and q navy that made
her mistress Of the sens. was foe to
eminent upon thu earth. To the imper-
the the dread issues Of that hour we're to be de-
cided. The declarntton was signed: the die
was cast; u new era had been reached IN the
Proclaimed, brave words had been spoken
which sounded strangely to ROYAL ears. but
the S great is1 6ears Of ai humanity w." ''' '''
HSits the H"ria EoE ssss
from its lethargy hy tho declaration that Ire
new gospel proclai med BY the signers OF the
Of Sa was IN c0net
It challenged the doctrine 81 the divine right
Of I kings The barons OF England at tho
willing tyrant that Magma Charta which Tor
ages had heon the palladium Of English lib
erty. again and agai n during the reign OF the
long line OF the predecessors OF George Ill.
some darling Of prerogative, Of kinglv power
had been grud Singly conceded to an exasper-
restrain within bounds. to limit, not to destroy.
the one man power.
THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION.
Our Declaration OF Independence solemnly
snnSuneed as truth t fhat ail men
feature OF the social compact as the very COR
nor stone Of civil government the absolute
elared to haye been established among men
for the benefit OF the goyerned What gl1ri..
EFT n It's
n;ts.ancel Well did the great commoner OF
England oxclaim., The men who can SO writo
deserve to be Free
Whence came the men who signed this
decaration2 In what school OF politics or
Philosophy did they learn these great truths
Who taught them the science OF political Gov
ernmentP From what loyal line Of law givers
did they spring. Unskilled In the diplomacy
and craft that controls cabi nets and governs
empires. they were the people. raised up BY m
wise Providence. to overcome the Obstacles
and grapp!e with the dangers that threatened
."From the earliest struggled for the freedom
ofmankind to the days Of Thomas Jefferson
the men who. in the halls OF debate or on the
Held Of battle. have been the eloquent ndvo-
Gates OF human rights or the bold defenders OF
human liberty have sprung from tho ranks OF
the people.
Fellow citizens. the calm. dignity with which
This revolution was inauguTated. the, ties OF
allegiance sundered., the solemn declaration
pade that henceforth these colonies were to
70 free and independent States. and tho
solemn appeal Of tho representatives Of tho
people to the postority for the Iectitude OF
taeir Intentions Is one OF the grandest AMI
most imposing events in history. When In all
FINE have any other people inaugurated revo-
iaton and confronted death with such fearless
algnity? No bravado or violence married tho
grandeur Of this great act: but q calm, recital
y wrongs and expressions Is followed by tho
r peelsive step. and tho solemn appeal to the su-