The record-union., 1893-07-05


Of thy unfathomable love, thy brooding
care and thy measureless grace.
IN the interesting services of this hour
ana the significant demonstrations of
this day we would look to thee, from
whence cometh our help, and remember
that thou art the fountain of all life and
light; the source of all consolation and
strength, and that thou dost in thine in
finite wisdom and mysterious provi-
dences order the destinies of nations. We
thank thee that thou art in aifiliation
with the children OF men seeking to win
them nom ignoble views and longing to
deliver them from the bondage OF super
sutton and every form of evil that en-
slaves the minds and hearts of men, and
to bring them to the consciousness and
! enjoyment of that liberty which thou hast
vouchsafed to all who fear thy name.
We thank thee for this land of ours
rich and great in all that lies ut the basis
OF true wealth and prosperity. Great
and grand above the nations of the world
in its ideas and efforts.
We thank thee for its spirit of progress
IN all the channels that contribute to the
nobility and happiness and prosperity of
It's people. We thank the tor the loyalty
that nils the hearts OF so many of its noble
sons and daughters. And as we stand
mid these free institutions, mid all the
wealth OF scientific research and deyel-
opment, literary advantages, social cul-
ture, and, above ali, the priceless bless
ing of freedom, we would remember
gratefully the heroism and sacrifice and
deVouon OF our foretathers, who, in the
hour OF danger and peril. brought their
all to the altar of liberty that this nation
might live, and that justice and freedom
should be the heritage of its people May
our minds ever be inspired by the cour-
age and loyalty and faith that sustained
the hearts and nnrUnl thn or ba
heroes OF Lexington and Bunker Hill
ana valley Forge, and every field where
the banner OF freedom was defended.
Bless him who shall address US; may
| ms words enkindle within US more love
OF country, better appreciation of its
dearly bought privileges and nobler re-
solves to so live and SO labor that its
honor may be defended, its resources de-
Veloped, It's institutions strengthened, its
CIVILIZATION heightened and embellished,
ana Its liberties maintained and broad
ened, that this precious Inheritance be-
queathed to US by the struggles and heart
offerings and life offerings OF its noblest
ana best may be given to the coming
generation richer and fuller in all that be-
tokens true national grandeur.
May the memories and associations of
tnls day and the causes which gave it
plrIn De 10 this Nation ever as a pillar of
cloud by day and fire by night that it
may go forward and increase in its great
ness and glory, that it may stand before
the nations ofthe earth nobly vindicated in
It's effort TO establish and preserve and de-
tend the great principles of truth and jus-
tlce ana liberty upon which it is builded.
May the starry banner of our country
ever wave its ample folds over a nation
freed from tyranny and oppression. and
TO God. who sustalns the right and up
holds the pillar of immortal truth, shall
"a A
PATRIOTIC. SONGS.
A national song by the quartet fol-
lowed, and then came a fine reading Of
the Declaration of independence by
Samuel E. Simmons, one OF Sacramento's 5
native sons, which was SO natural and
clearly enunciated that it was greeted
with round of applause.
The singing OF the "Star SpangIed
Banner by Mrs. B. f. Howard, sup
ported by the quartet, was rendered
beautifully, arousing much patriotic en-
thuslasm. During the singing the colors
were supported by the Color Guard of
the Second Infantry Regiment, by order
OF Col. J. w. Guthrie and added much
to the effectiveness of the piece.
THE GRAFTON.
Howard MacSherry, the Orator of the
Day, was introduced by Mayor Steinman.
1t had been announced in the pro-
gramme that the fireworks were to be re-
served till evening, but the pyrotechni-
cal display of wit and humor with which
he greeted his audience was such as is
rarely witnessed, and should have been
listened to TO be appreciated. At times
it rose to the dignity of eloquence, and
Lubbled over with patriotism, and his
peroratiOn to California was worthy of
more than passing attention.
After assuring his hearers that his dis
course would have one merit, that OF
brevity, he said that while he was an
nounced to deliver an Grafton, he did not
think that was exactly what they wanted,
He had come to this city last night for the
first time in his lie. and felt assured of
their patriotism from the amount of noise
he had since listened to. We ought not.
he said, be ashamed to celebrate an oc-
casion like this, a day of this character.
as we do. In the East, in the center OF
civilization, the day is not properly cele-
brated, descending TO the level of mere
picnic. lie quoted the language of the
Declaration that had Just been read. that
prudence will dictate that governments
long established should not be changed for
light and transient causes" and SAID that
our State Capitol, the symbol of which
had cost so much money, which had been
here so many years, and was 50 beautiful
with surroundings, should not be re-
moved to crafty feelings of personal
spite and petty anger and jealousy.
The boy, said he, who sees to-day's pro-
cessiou, who listens to these exercises.
receives an object lesson which enables
him to realize in some small degree what
it has cost this Nation in blood, in money.
in the sacrifice of its best lives to perpet-
uate our country as nation. He could
see, IN his minds eye, the long line of
forms in gray pressing forward to the TOP
of the hill, their breasts animated by love
Of
stood it, with thoughts as high and the
conviction that they were right as firmly
implanted in their hearts as i'll those of
the army OF boys in blue who awaited
them at the crest of the hill; he could see
the burst of flame which drove them back
into the valley of defeat, and could see
that after the smoke cleared away our flag
still proudly tioAted over the fortress Of
justice and right, not one star dimmed or
missing, with the great question solved
republic of freedom an ACCOMPLISHED
fact.
Foreigners at the Columbian Exposi-
ton, while they admire the grandeur of
our productions and achievements. cam
not, he said, fail to be impressed by the
fact that in this country there is not one
slave-that each man is a prince and each
woman a queen. But he did not come
here to glorify the United States, but to
tind some little fault and criticise Amer
leans are proud of all things connected
with US, and have reason to be; but we
have one weakness-each man believes
this to be the only country worth having,
and himself TO be the man most tit for Of
tice. To serve his country he is ready to
begin at the lowest round of the ladder.
even as low as a San Francisco Super
visor, and ascend it to the Presidency.
There are grave dangers confronting us,
and the three great ones are abuse of free
speech, free press and free ballot. The
allusion to these is very fetching one:
aNerY politiCal orator uses il. Ii snunds