The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1892-06-04

mountains OF the tabled Golconda there
amid eternal sunshine, under the shade
OF never-dying trees and by the banks of
llmpld waters were to be found the site
OF Liberty's dwelling place. To this
spirit OF restlessness came Columbus to
lind out the way to the new continent
that continent found lying midway be
tween the re-created Europe into which
the new leaven of christianity had been
put, and the old continent of the un-
known years and centuries. where God
had walked with man and where man
had fallen from his high estate. But
great events are brought about slowly.
While Columbus was cropping his way
through unknown seas, the voice OF
Luther was ringing out in the free, clear
tones OF boyish playtime upon the streets
OF Elsenach. With Luther came the
Reformation religious it has been
called, but really intellectual. The right
to know and worship God of ones own
self is intellectual freedom of the high
est type. With the right to choose our
spiritual ruler came also the right to
choose our temporal rulers and forms of
government And SO gradually this
light began to dawn upon the minds of
the masses now keenly alive to the
weight of their burdens. TO these the
discovery of America offered safe re-
treat. An to this country was transfer
red the contest for freedom. One hun
dred and sixty years were spent in sub
DUNG the rude forces of nature and the
barbarous foe that inhabited the now
land. When the colonists turned to rest
from their labor they found that they
still bore the shackles of foreign rule,
that rule over which they had no con-
trol, and in whose directing they were
to have no voice. The old spirit was
aroused. A common danger brought
about a union of strength. Naturally,
then, when they came to lay their cause
before the court of public opinion, when
they came to appeal to the public for
support and encouragement, that appeal
was based upon the principle of freedom
which had inspired the hearts Of their
ancestors of old. The proposition that
all men we're free and equal was but the
embodiment in words of the end for
which the contest had been waged since
the days of Luther. The banner bear
ing that insignia rallied to it's support
the brave of all nations who saw it's col
ors flashing IN the sunlight. With the
struggle came brave men fit for the task
wv
away the underbrush of the forest pre-
liminary to laying the foundations of
their rude cabins, so now they cleared
the ground of caste and monarchical ira
ditions before laying the corner stone of
freedoms temple. Deep down was
placed the foundation that man was to
be free and secure in the enjoyment of
life, liberty and pursuit Of happiness,
and upon this, secured by the cement of
a love for a common cause and hatred Of
common enemy, were laid the stones
that were to form perfect union, estab-
lish justice and secure the blessings Of
liberty to the builders and their pos
terity.
But this contest was not to be one
sided nor so easily ended. Like all other
efforts there were at work two forces,
the one urging forward eagerly into un-
known paths, the other content to &C
cept what was offered until better op-
portunity arose. One class was for COM
pletely overturning the government and
managing affairs as to them appeared
best another content to protest, and
leave the rest with God. Through this
combination there were left in the new
body elements seeking its destruction
Among these was common enemy
slavery physical slavery of an alien
race, which was to SO instill its poison
into the nations veins as to warp its
Judgment and weaken it's powers for
over half century. 1t may seem
strange that men with such high ideals
and possessed of such clear insight into
the future should have overlooked such
a dangerous violation Of the fundamen
tai rights laid down by them. But con
tent with their own freedom they seemed
to have allowed their fears to be allayeC
by the sirens voice. Alas ! This omis
sion was to cost them dearly. For sew
enty- five years was the contest to be car
ried on with the strongest weaponi
modern times could forge. In the arena
of debate intellectual giants parried and
| thrust with logic, satire and vitupera
tion. The power OF the press was useC
TO mould into iron casts public opinion
In the pulpit divine aid was invoked
and pronounced in behalf of the con
tending parties. At the cradles side
were taught with all the power of !;
mothers love the lessons that we're t.
urge forward the young to the conflict
and at the death bed of the aged thu
survivors were exhorted to continue the
| fight. At last the gage of battle wal
thrown down and accepted and the bes
blood of the nation was poured out upor
freedoms battle tielo. The narrowing
details of that interneclne strife need bt
recalled only to realize the price tina
was demanded and paid. Strong, brav.
men had been raised up to WELD thu
mighty sword men who valued theil
inheritance more than their lives. Ant
today, under the most favorable auspices
of peace, with a country again free, uni
ted, prosperous and happy, we, togethe
with thousands all over this broad lant
have laid aside the care and struggle fo
temporal success to recall the memories
of those who fought and fell for senti
ment to pay our tribute of respect t.
their worth, and offer up our prayers o
thankfulness for their sacrifice in ou
behalf.
When Pericles, delivering that famou
funeral oration over those who fell il
the Peloponesian war, came to speak 0
the dead he described not the deeds o
heroism they performed nor did he tel
of the glories they had achieved, but HI