Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-05
GENERAL STEVENSON
Delivers Splendid Grafton Before An
Immense
THRONG AT THE FOURTH OF JULY
Celebration at Peoria, Ill.-Hs Paints Glowing
Picture of the Nations Greatness and Progress
Since the Signing Of the Declaration OF
Indepsndencs-A Bright Future.

| z. Stevenson, the Democratic cahuiuaVe
for Vice President, addressed an i'm
mense throng Of people here to-day, the
occasion being the celebration OF the
nation's birthday. The following i:
General Stevenson's speech in part;
FELLOW CITIZENS: / accepted with
Measure the courteous invitation OF Judge
Worthingtop and of your committee TO al
dress You to-day for the reason that De
sired to meet and mingle with the. people
of county which has made sucn slgnal
contribution TO the material prosperity Us
well as the history of this great state
We celebrate to-day the Fourth OF july
For one hundred and sixteen years IL mas
been with our people, either as coioniSs oI
as a nation, the sacred day. During all tue
ages TO come il will stand out on the record
of the worlds history as the birthday Oh q
great republic. Nations yet unborn WIZ
read with admiration and with awe OF tue
men who on this day, In this new woriu
without the light of experience 10 gulde
them, carved out new government.
tits not meet that this anniversary should
PASS unAoticed 1t is not meet tnat tnls,
the birthday of American liberty, should
pass unheralded into history.
One hundred and sixteen years ago, thlr-
teen American colonies, less tnan three
million in population, scattered along tue
seaboard from New Hampshire 10 Georgia,
without effective organization, without
army or Navy, unaided by wealth. or LOT
eign alliance suddenly aud forever sun
dered the ties which bound them TO the
mother country.
Looking back at this act from the stand
point of century's distance, In boldness
and grandeur of conception, II stands unrl-
vailed in history. 1t will go down all the
ages in history and in song, linked win the
gallant struggles of all people, IN ali umes,
for civil and religious freedom.
'rhe last remnant of Poland's defenders
arrayed against the hopeless odds OF her
oppressors. courting death rather than sur
yiye their country's liberties, excite our
highest admiration, while history mas lew
brighter pages than that when tellS OF the
last stand and glorious death OF Leoniuas
and his Spartan band at the pass OF Iher-
mopvlae. The glory of such heroism be-
longs exclusively TO no age or country; IL is
a mart of the common heritage OF our race.
Whenever AID wherever in the worlds his
tory any people have struck blow against
tyranny il has been against ODDS ana WIN
out counting the cost.
Coming down 10 the meeting OF the Con-
tinental Congress in Independence Han,
Philadelphia July 4, 1910, and the signing
of the Declaration Of independence, Mr.
Stevenson said;
To the imperishable honor OF the signers
of this declaration be 1t said that they ara
not hesitate when the dread issues OF that
hour were to be issued. The gospel OF uni
versal liberty had been proclaimed 10 the
world. Boldly and unequivocally II chal-
4 Al, Il, If a r1Rlt
kings The Barons Of England at
the point of the sword had wrested from
an unwilling tyrant that magma charta
which for ages had been the palladium OF
English liberty. Again aud again during
the reign of the long line OF the predeces-
| sors of George the Third, some darling
prerogative OF kingly power had been
erudgingly conceded 10 an exasperated peo-
| Die. But these were mere efforts TO re-
strain within bounds, to limit, not TO de-
stroy the one man power.
Our Declaration Of Independence solemn
~ announced as a self-evident truth that
all men are born equal. IL proclaimed as
the cardinal feature of the social compact
| as the very cornerstone Of civil government
| the absolute equality OF all men. What a
| glorious inheritance is this declaration.
What golden words of truth are CLEANED
| from its pages. What lofty statesmanship
is breathed in its every utterance. Well
| did the great commoner OF England ex-
claim. "The men who can so write deserve
| 10 be free"
Fellow citizens, the calm dignity with
which this revolution was inaugurated.
the ties OF allegience sundered, this solemn
| declaration made, that henceforth THESE
colonies were to to be free and independ-
ent states, and the solemn appeal oil the
| - 40 n
| for the rectitude Of their intentions Is one
| of the grandest and most imposing events
| in history. No bravado or violence marred
! the grandeur OF this great act. How str7k-
| ing The contrast with other nations when In
| the throes of revolution. The history OF
rebellion in England which preceded the
common wealth is marred BY the violent
| disruntiou of Parliament and the execution
| of Charles l. The expressions and wrongs
of the French people eliminated In
scenes Of violence that caused the
streets Of Paris to run with Dlood
and the mob that ruled the hour threw
| down at the foot OF the throne the head OIL
a king as its gage Of battle. with none oil
| It's excesses and cruelties, a spirit OF earn
estness and bearing none the less charac-
terized the authors OF the American revo-
| luton Relieving in the Righteousness OF
their cause they pledged their lives, their
| fortunes. and their sacred honor 10 its sue
| cess. They read the glorious consumma-
/ fion of their hopes in the determination oil
! the people. Prophet as well as patriot old
! John Adams exclaimed: upon it's annual
| refurresce our children viii celebrate II
/ with songs OF thanksgiving, with roar oi
cannon. with martial music, and with
shouts of joy." Prophetic words. and
how strikingly has the prophecy been ful
| flied.
The Declaration Of Independence was an
\ important even In history. not 50 much DC,
cause Of its expression OF correct creed
OF human rights and correct principles ol
! human government, out because OF the I'm
portant practical results by which Il was
| followed History is full of instance:
where other people have thrown on the
| voke of the oppressor and attempted u
| maintain their liberty by self-government
INIT the history Of these attempts IS but Q
catalogue OF sad failures, because OK tht
/, Iack of virtue in the people sufficient 4
! maintain DIV wise legislation what they
achieved by arms. The Commonwea oi
/, England was soon followed by the re
| turn of Charles III, amidst the plaudlts o.
the populace The people OF France, aitel
destroying the Royal power and adopanl
a Republican Constitution, too soon proves
| themselves lncap1Die oi Haihsainins eN'
| supremacy Of the law Dy popular govern
meut The history OF some OF thi
south American States is an illustration
! alike cf the ability OF the people 20 achiey'
| their freedom and Of their lncapacity q
maintain their liberty by stable govern
| ment
The Government, whatever its form
Ehich fails 70 protect the person and prop
erty Of the citizen, must inevitably perish
or Washington IL can truly De said tha
the century lately closed has not d.mmc'
the glory OF his splendid achievements.
kind providence endowed Washington wit
the qualities essential 70 successful leader
| ship. Others failed, many grAw weary b
the wayside, but during the ven years
struggle along the Dlo oasaws