Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-06
THE LESSON OF THE FOURTH,
John w. Mitchell's Grafton at
the Pavilion.
A Patriotic and COmmon-sense
4 Address.
The Story of the Nations Birth The
President-The Problem Present.
cd by the Labor Movement.
Our Country Will Endure.

Fourth was the Grafton OF President
John W. Mitchell, of the law college
A lack Of space in yesterday g paper pre-
vented it's publication in full, 60 it il
herewith given:
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLE.
MEN: This patriotic presence. exultani
music, bright flags and brighter smiling
faces, the reading of the wonderful writ
ing which you have just heard, prompts
response to the queries which involun-
tarily arise upon this occasion of: Why
this gala scene? Why the gathering OF
this representation OF the intelligence,
the worth, and all that is good Of this
community and like gatherings every
where without the length and breadth
OF our country? And l am proud of the
honor of having been set the pleasant
task of making reply to this magnificent
assembly and of going over with you the
historic scenes and incidents which it is
our pleasure to commemorate upon each
recurring Fourth OF July.
We are gathered here in this garden
spot of the world, surrounded by ma
ture's resplendent and loftiest scenes, to
celebrate the anniversary OF the birth
of the greatest nation the sun ever
ehone upon.
We are here to echo the sound of 'sIn-
dependence" which has for 1l6 years
today been reverberating and ringing out
its joyous cadence of Liberty and Union.
We are here to keep green the memo
ry OF the patriot statesmen and soldiers
who, for our country and the right,
pledged "their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honor" upon the doubtful
issue Of awful war.
We are here to eulogize our fore
fathers. who, by their patriotism, wis
dom and indomitable courage "gave to
valor new song, to heroism fresher
laurels, to patriotism a richer offering,
to liberty an inalienable birthright.' y
We are here to express our veneration
for the nations architects, who laid the
corner stone of this mighty union, in a
land 'garlanded with flowers, foored
with granite, and dipping her jewel
hands in two oceans" from which like
Venus from the sea does she seem to
have risen and now in her majesty is
the awe and admiration of an incredu-
lous world. And at the same time we
record our appreciation of the past and
congratulate ourselves that our state is
golden California, the brightest gem
upon the hand that dips the western
ocean.
We are here fulfilling prophecy
which is to us as memorable as is told
in the worlds history. We are fulfill
ing the prophetic utterances of John
Adams, who in speaking to the adoption
OF the Declaration of Independence, dis
played wisdom and foresight rare even
in the annals of great minds, when he
Wn ch % Ga oil
and immortal day. When we are in our
graves our children will honor it. They
will celebrate it with Thanksgiving, with
festivities, with bon-fres and illumina-
tions." Words as marvellously pro-
phetic, and to which could we'll be added,
those the bard of Avon, so aptly put into
the mouth of the arch-assassin Cassius,
as the dead Caesar lay at the foot of
Pompey's statue:
s'How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn?
Since that day many new states have
been born to the union, and in all the
fires are lighted on the affairs erected by
other patriots, and the notable scene of
more than century ago is being re-
enacted.
1t is fitting on this day for us to 60
over the heroic story of our country's
birth. So will ask you to follow me
while l briefly recall it to you. And
promise not to weary you with minute
recital of the incidents characteristic of
that epoch of our country's history; for
by so doing l feel that it would reflect
upon your knowledge of those historical
events.
This Columbian year particularly inn
presses upon us our first lesson of how
this land was discovered just 400 years
ago, and it's advancement since then
from barbaric waste and jungle to it's
present proud position among nations.
But for the purpose of our story you
will recall how the oppressed and those
who sought a new dwelling place and
peace left the old world, crossed the
then trackless ocean, came to this wild
and then unknown country, and finally,
after suffering untold hardships and
privations-after carrying their lives in
their hands for years-not knowing at
what moment the wild savages would
descend upon them with torture and
death, firmly established the thir-
teen American colonies. These col
onies, as you well know, then
belonged to and were sub
jecu to the rule and throne OF
Great Britain, as Canada, Australia and
other lands throughout the world be-
long to and are subject to this nation.
Then all these colonies were proud OF
their mother country and were glad to
call themselves her children. But at
an evil hour for England-and most
unwise one, too-in defiance of the
chartered rights OF the colonists, OF the
rules of law and equity aud natural JUS
tice, there was begun system OF ex
orbitant and unjust taxation against
the American colonie 8, without the
privilege of representation by the tax
ing power. Protest naturally followed.
But instead of relief, unjust exactions
were increased to unbearable oppres-
eions. Inevitable tyranny and massacre
followed and the natural result was
open rebellion and war. But, mark
you. war only for the redress of griev-
auces.
Thus was created great occasion--a
,omentous emergency. And fortunately
,,,r posterity there were great men at
,and to meet it. The wisdom of the
fathers in congress, representing all the
colonies. selected George Washington,
that grand and good man, as the gen
. eral Of our army; and this young, strug.
cling. proud, courageous and defiant
neonle took up the gauntlet OF wal
which was cast before her by the great
est mower of the civilized world. For {
whole year the fight was fought only fc
- -.s&@r Nnlr rcF ~