Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-05

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Of days Vt America The day ws ~
houor 10 the msmosy a the signsrH OF
the declaration of independents. TbAes
ceremonies. this coming together of the
people. notes the anulversary of uAs
birth cf oas republic.
Prophet a. yell ~ patriot, john
Adams exclaimed: We shall make This
glorious and immortal day. Our chill
dFeu will cclebsate it With roar II can
non, with martial music. with songs Of
Thanksgiving and with shouts of Joy.
All this multitude thousand our eyes
now behold. One hundred and seven
teen wears since the declaration q In
pendsnee WAS signed. midway between
the oceans city has sprung into life
containing . population but little lees
than that II all American states At the
time the declsration cf Independence
Was proclaimed.
II ann hsnore.l by being called 60 pre-
sirse this day over -tfzis sssemblage. IL
speak 10 you. Lips more eloquent than
mine willtelI indenesdence viii look down
upon a people who celebrate this day
with hearts grateful % God, that those
who guarded and strengthened we're
who founded this government.
Carter Har-ion's Asidrr~A
Brief and to the point. the address
Was frequently interrupted with ap
plsuse. which increased ten fold a. the
vice president retired.
Then 3. q. Pratt. Of New York. camc
10 the edge OF the platform and at q
wave of his baton the chorus rose and
commenced the opening stanzas OF
-~Golumbia. the Gem OF the Ocean BY
the time the chorus was reached the
audience was wild with enthusiasm and
il Joined in the refrain with vigor, tens
OF thousands Il arms waving the stars
and stripes overhead Ii was stirring
spectacle. but il was to be intensified
later on. When the singing had ceased
il gas the turn OF Mayor Carter Harri-
son Ia speak in behalf Of the worlds fair
city.
The mayor spoke I'm substance as fol
lows; Fellow Citizens of the United
States and Friends from all over the
World We greet you here toiay. one
most momentous in the history Of Amer
lea. We meet here. and at this hour
throughout the United States all Amer
leans are rejoicing that they have lived
until this Fourth. All men love their
homes Some think this sentiment.
bat IL - AN instinct common 10 all AMI
mails as well as human beings The
har seeks its den. the tiger loves its lair.
the bird that skins across the sky goss
from far south To far north to reach the
place where il is hatched. II is feel
ing that may be. II is a feeling that
may he left out of the heart by lack
Of education and patriotism. Like John
Adams. l want this day 10 be celebrated
by bombs. firecrackcrs. guns and every
thing also which makes "A noise. We all
are sons Of America. and today let us be
boys glorying in the achievements Of
our ancestors. In this country We are
too fond of the dollar of our dad
dies. We aim too much after the
material things OF this world.
Let il 60 out to the world that at high
noon ON this spot there shall be hoisted
that flag which Paul Jones gave To the
world when with HE little fleet of thret
vessels he attacked the Scraps and
hoisred the flag on his little ship, the
Bon Homme. There stands the wuman
whose ancestor rescued The flag from
the waters. and she refused to allow me
10 take the flag from her hands. 1t is
Il
letting il leave her hands for those OF
another. Four hundred years ago last
year three little caravels sailed from
Spain for this undiscovered land. and
today we celebrate in this great White
city that event"
At this point in his address the mayor
paused for moment. Stepping toward
the table he picked up a small bunch OF
red and white carnations and waving
them in the face OF the multitude he ex-
claimed: "lIere are flowers from the
grave II Thomas Jefferson. a mighty
hero ~ the days OF American Independ-
ence." Then. laying down the flowers
and picking up a sword with a magnifi
cent gil,led scabbard be continued with
increased dramatic effect as he waved il
around his head: Here ia the sword of
another great defender OF America. An
drew jackson" A great shout went up
from the throng and at this moment big
rain drops commenced 10 fall. the sky
having been gradually overcast from the
commencement of the exercises
lit is gcing to rain shouted the
mayor. but do you think that our fore
fathers who died for you cared for the
rain." A mighty shout of no" came
in response. The supreme moment is
al hand continued The mayor. whose
watch denoted that il was minute Of
noon.
Raising the Old Flag.
For moment the multitude stood
bFeathless Venerable Mrs. Stafford.
shaking and trembling in every limb.
arose and grasped the cord of the flag
peic.
Tho moment is here" shouted the
mayor A roar of cannon and then
with paIsied fingers the old lady drew
the cord toward her and Paul Jones
fag, old and faded. but still priceless
emblem of liberty. went up to the top of
the pole IN full view of the throng.
simultaneously Mr.. Harrison again
grasped the Jackson sword. and. brand
iehing il over his head, shouted above
,he r0ar Of cheer: 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 ~ his country.
Forward 10 the stand. like the roar
tidal wave sweeping inland came thk
voices of tens of thousands II resolute
men ard the weaker voices 81 those III
the gentler sew Yes. yes. We swear; we
swear" From the balconies - the
structure behind and before, came
hike an echo the deep. earnest
roar. Yes. zee, Ne swear. we
sweat Still the mayor stood with
sword pointed toward the flag like
AJAX defying the lightning The mo
ment wss dramatic. there vas not man
or a wesnan In the whole throng. but at