The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-07-14
SPEECH
DELIVERED IN CANTON ON JULY 4th BY
HON. j. c. WELTY.
A Patriotic Address by a Patriotic oiti-
zen-our Forefathers EztolIed for Their
Sacrifices in the Interest Of Freedom.

Sacrifices in the Interest Of Freedom.
The following is the sreech in full de.
livered by Hon. j. G.. Welty on Monday
last. 1t 10 published by request of many
who did not GO to hear IL delivered:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-The invita-
ton extended me by your committee to
address you on this occasion Is duly ap-
preciated and should be uumindful of
my duty TO my country and unjust TO your
organizAt did not accept IL, coming
as it does from such a great number OF
patriotic citizens, who have united them
selves in one common brotherhood and
sentiment.
"The Day We Celebrate" is distinguish
ed from all others by its being the yearly
mile stone in the march OF American in
dependence and freedom, by which every
American citizen is guaranteed full pro-
lection and liberty of speech and action
While fully enjoying the benefits of this
the foremost nation in the land, in times
of peace and prosperity, and for which we
should ever be grateful to that Divine
rulerer who governs all things, we too
often forget under what trying ordeals
and circumstances our freedom was OBJ
tained and for the purpose OF keeping
alive in the heart OF every true American
citizen the history of the past and to
again baptize ourselves with the loyalty |
that characterized our forefathers, the gov |
ernment has wisely decreed and ordained |
that this day shall be set apart as a Ma |
tional holiday for the purpose, and TO the |
end, that all who love their country and |
their freedom might Join together in ap. |
propriate exercises and not only renew |
their faith and loyalty to their govern
msnt, but chat others might be Influenced |
thereby and the freedom Of our country
emphasized.
1t has been truly said of the acts Of our
loyal and patriotic forefathers that "Tis
not the concern of day, a year, or an |
age; posterity are virtually Involved in II
even to the end of time.n The causes
that led to the adoption and promulgation
of that ever memorable and patriotic doc
ument the Declaration Of Independence
yet live in the memory OF us all, and is
the creed of ev.ry true and loyal citizen
of these United States.
Every effort to secure the rights OF the
colonies had been made and Intellectual,
their prayers had been rejected with dis
dain and deaf ear was turned to them in |
their supplcations for their rights by the
British Empire.
Frequently had they warned the British
government of its attempt to extend an
unwarrantable jurisdiction over our states |
and their inhabitants and further re-
minded them OF the circumstances under
which emigatiou and settlement here had
been made and that the price OF which
was their own blood and treasure,
That taxation without representation
was not only unjust and oppressive but
disloyal and should not be tolerated. !
That unjust taxation was illegal and un- !
warranted and therefore should not be I
continued. On numerous occ lsions did =
our representatives, present to Great | e
Britain the many Just complaints and dis =,
abilities that were inflicted upon our peo- y
pie by its nation, but all to no avail. The u
iron hand of tyranny and oppression was u
ever uuyieiding and iTreconcilable, and all u
Dur prayers and supplcations were as "
1aught. This st tie of affairs continued | LS
Tor a time until at last il was unbearable o.
Ind the issue had 70 be met. Dssensions II
arose in our own midst as to the proper p
course To pursue and the desired end to be 81
accomplished until finally on the 4th day io
II July, 1116 the Declaration of lndepen- ~
.ence was unanimously adopted aud y
lgned by the the representatives of their ut
olonles, now states, and a new era was OF
reated and there was one nation who Vi
roposed to secure TO itself and its in az
ahitants the greatest blessing on earth, ne
hat of American freeecm. - sa
Freedom from oppression, freedom &C
rom a despOtic monarchy and freedom VA
'om unjust and unlawful demands. The IN
lais and hardships following the enuu- us
alton and promulgltion of that docu an
lent have been fully recorded and stand as
Ut in letters of gold to testify TO the loyal - -.
and bravery OF our Borefathers. Theirs ou
as the cause of the right and the Just and ms
ith freedom as their battle cry they 20
arched forth to victory and conquered we
e enemy that threatened our very eq,
Llstence and thereby we declared our sSl sSl
Ives free people. thS
Thus was th corner stone our republic L
id and the beginning of our future oul oul
istence firmly established, and our the
tion crowned with that everlasting age
cath OF perpetual freedom, and indie onT ny
Ddepce, 20
The victory which crowned the efforts of 70 70
r ancestors brought with it, new duties anC
d additional responsibilities. To sue nns
ed is one thing, but to merit success is | TNT
other. How well we have kept the
tn and assumed the responsibilities, the
owth and history of our country answer,
ill today we are the foremost nation in
, land. Our agricultural interests have Mr.
'wn to mammoth proportions until we o.
able, not only to provide for and fur st
. OTr own people with that part of the r,
'S,ssaries of life, but in addition to sup :,
foreign countries. Our manutactur- L
establishments not only furnish en- mas
ymeut to the many willing and skilled ~
chanics, but they are in addition there. Can
the pride of this country and the wealth de
the nation. esta
me of the chief advantages of a Re Sta,
olic like ours is the vast number of prol
erests of its different citiz sns and vet a ALLIE
nmon purpose and sentiment under. was
1g it all and which is the devotion to | wer
lntry and loyalty to each and every Ia
p an thereof, That bond of citizenshin | wer
lch cements them together in one com. stoc
n tie of brotherhood that is everlasting. w
as not on. case
~ on mast blessed their says
nOTy and paid Allie
Sc hall0wed tears which Or
ID the yirtuOus dead, III t
thee and the scene around erly
template well; and II, perchance, thy home whe
te thee with tat1ers honoTed name mipl
,al thy sORs-Instruct them, what AZ debt Chs;
y owe their ancestors, and make them swear Nnri
Jay IL by tansm ttmg down entire whe
sacred rights TO which themselves were born" was
othing is 80 harsh to the ear of a true barP
Ierican citizen as The echoing of senti- dow
nts in derogation OF our country. The der
rts of our citizens beat In one accord
attest to the worth and value of our
ublc, We have no kings to crown
nobility to govern us, no different
ks of citizenship, but one common tie A il
universal equality. The rich and the
r worship at the same shrine and uo
TX, alike from the same fountain of
eral freedom. The ship of state is a., a.
erned by the united voices of our citi- h'SI n ~
s, without preferment or distinction hiab
the voice of the pauper and the mill IaSia nIS
aire are sounded alike, and with equal eDns
snt. Ms
he stability OF our government has MI MI.
n the wond of nations and the IT,
liration of us all, and the mystery is aIar
ed and il becomes apparent to US all, snot
this is true when we consider the urJs
ldation upon which ii rests. Our an eIus
ors did not plan for the day, or year, tben
y, but for posterity that the blessings noe ~
en sIoS ~ ,ransrii,tads .ie S VIC badl!
GRAFTON to another, throughout all anS
. to come. They planted the corner NJ |
les OF our republic so firmly that they Ai'
Id out in bold relief to warn all nations
inst any encroAchment upon the
ts of these United States, or any citi- At
or inhabita1t thereof. age 9
4.