The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-05

not mine, but the part OF others, 10 speak
10 you. Lips more eloquent than mine
| VIII teil something Of the men who
| gave 10 the American Colonies this chart
OF thelr liberties; something of the heroic
struggle which. commencing at Lexington,
eliminated at Yorktown In the indepen-
dehee OF the Colonies; something OF the
men who. I'm l7S7. inspired by wisdom
more than human. crystallzed into our
| Federal Constitution the deathless prin-
| ciples enunciated I'm the great declaration.
congratulate you. my countrymen.
| upon this auspicious celebration OF the
| Fourth day Of July: upon the glories OF
! the past and upOn what yet remaIneth
sure for us and our children. Self-gov-
ernment Is no longer an experiment. II
has safely endured the crucial test OF
| more than one hundred years OF trial.
| NO period OF our history has known a
more steadfast determination 10 maintain
| and perpetuate the priceless heritage be-
| queathed US by our fathers our repub-
| lie is
Whole as the marble. founded as the
rock:
! AS broad and general as the casing air ,
we have entered upon the second CEN
/ tury OF our national life-God grant that
I we, and those who succeed US. NAV nor
! prove unworthy OF those who have gone
before that we may not prove unmlnd-
| ful Of the sublime lessons OF thN past
! Then may we rest assured that the bright
sun which ushers in each succeeding
anniversary Of the Declaration Of fnae-
pendence Will look down upon a peoplA
VINO celebrate this day with hearts grate-
full TO God that those who guarded and
strengthened were counted worthy TO he
named with those who founded this Gov
eminent"
The address was frequently Interrupted
with applause. and II increased ten-fold
as the Nice-President retired
Then 5 g.. Pratt. Of New York, came
to the edge Of the platform, and, Mt the
wave Of the baton. the chorus rose and
commenced the opening stafizas OF "Co-
lumbia, the Gem Of the Ocean,"
BY the time that the chorus Of the song
was reached the audience was wild with
enthusiasm. and It Joined I'm the refrain
with vim and yigor. tens Of thousands OF
arms waving the stars and stripes over
head. II was a stirring spectacle hut
It was 10 be intensified later on. When
the singing had ceased It was the turn
OF Mayor Carter Harrison TO speak IN
At one point In his address the mayor
pause for a moment. Stepping toward
the table he picked up a small bunch OF
red and white carnations and waving
them towards the multitude, he exclaim-
ed. Here are flowers from the grave Of
Thtmas Jefferson, a mighty hero of the
days Of American independence Then
laying down the flowers and picking up a
sword with a magnificent giided scabbard,
he contlued, with increased dramatic ef-
feet as he waved II round his head
Here Is the sword Of another great de-
fender Of America, Andrew Jackson" A
great shout went up from the throng,
and at this moment big raln-drops COM
menced to fall. the sky having been grad
ually overcast since the commencement
Of the exercises.
1T is going 70 rain" shouted the mayor.
but do you think that our forefathers
who died for you cared for the rain2"
A mighty shout OF mo" came I'm re-
spouse.
"The supreme moment is at hand, "con-
tnued the mayor, whose watch denoted
that II was within n minute Of noon.
For a moment the multitude stood
breathless. Venerable Mrs. Stafford,
shaking and trembling In every limb. up
rose and grasped the cord OF the flag
pole.
"The moment IS herew shouted the may
or. A roar of cannon. and then. with shak-
ing fingers. tho old lady drew the cord to-
wards her. and Paul Jones flag. old and
faded, but still a priceless emblem OF
liberty went up TO the tor Of the pole In
full view Of the throng. simultaneously
Mayor Harrison again grasped the jack
son sword, and brandishng it over his
IL. . III.
"Men and women Of America. let every
American swear at this moment and by
this sword that he stands ready TO draw
his sword In the defense Of his country"
Forward to the stand. like the roar OF n
tidal wave sweeping inland. came the
voices Of tens Of thousands Of men. and
the weaker voices Of thousands Of the
gentler sex: "Yes. yes; we swear, we
swearV
From the balconies OF the structure
Behind, and before TO the north and
south, down from the dome OF the Adj
ministratlon building, came the echo the
deep Eyes, yes; we swear" Stlll the
mayor stood, with sword pointed, like
Ajax defying the lightning. The mo-
ment was dramatic, intense, one Of those
moments that are experienced but once
I'm a lifetime.
1neu the scene cnanBeu Win pre-
llminary burst OF melody; the combined
bands commenced the strains OF the
"Star Spangled Banner" and the cho-
rus followed In unison.
AS the final notes Of "The Star Span
gled Banner died away Mayor Harrison
crossed the platform and, grasping the
shaking hands OF Mrs. Stafford. who
still clung 10 the cord that held her pre-
cOus flag, said: God bless you for this
day" and tears coursed down the wrin-
kled features Of the octogenarian.
Director-General Davis then introduced
the orator OF the day. Hon. Hampton
L. Carson, OF Philadelphia. He was
warmly welcomed.
At the conclusion Of the oration the
audience, which. by this time. had COM
menced 10 thin out, united In singing
"America." Then the Declaration Of
Independence was read by John q. Nor
ton. OF Chicago. the audience sang the
Doxology. and with cheers for President
Cleveland. our country. and Mrs. Staf-
ford. the great demonstration came to an