The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-07-05

SOo7tGI DtEqasA % he IG4iFt9snc:r
ELHMs. W. Va, July 4.-The cele-
bratioa Of tho pssioa's birthday was
celebrated here to-day by the sntlro
population and the people from the
surrounding country, fully fve thou.
saud persons being present Ex.Secrc.
tary OF War Stephen 2. ElkIns, whose
homo is IN this beautiful town, dolIv-
erod tho principal address Of the day.
Hon. g. Wood Daily also spoke.
After compllmcnting tho pcopie on
the progress OF tho town aud congratu.
lating them on the succees Of tho Occa'
sion. Mr.. EIklns said:
About 1000 yoars ago the Egyptian
king, wishing to perpetuatO HE name.
built n monumental tomb, tho bnse OF
which covered eleven ncres OF ground.
History tells us that hundreds Of thou.
sands Of men were employed, aud yonrs
required to build this great monument
Nothing is known now OF this ambitious
king, exCopt,that his namc was Cheops,
and that his tomb IL the largest Of the
pyramids that keep silent watch by tho
Nile. This king did not know that good
deeds and good words that help man.
kind reach from earth to heaven, and
last longer than any monumental tomb
man Gun build. Tho Declaration OF In
dependence links Jeferson's nume with
immortality. His name will survive the
pyramids and all the monuments Of
earth.
It takes the world long time to get
ready for O great event, Il took con.
turtles to prepare for what was said and
done on the Fourth OF July. 177G. More
than century before Milton said:
"AIethinks. l geo in my mind a noble
end and prominent nation rousing hor.
Eelf like a strong muu after slrsp aud
shaking his invinciblo locks"
Education, tho church. bloody wars,
tho crusades, magma charta, tho riso
and fall OF governments and dy'
uasties. were some OF tho forces
that helped mako tho declaration
OF indepen1ence-tho most important
stop ever taken in tho direction Of tho
government by tho people and for tho
people. A virgin continent wis Iloces.
sary to perfect this mighty event, and
2S4 years before it was contaminated
Columbus found O now world. II was
not until the 4th Of July, ITO. that
the plain and simplo truths-"all
men arc created equal" that among
mans inalenablo rights 0ro lifo, lib.
erty and pursuit Of happiness, aud "all
power is in tho people, "-were put III
definite form and shape, and became
living forces, tremendous realities, by
three millions OF determined people
plcdSing thoir llvos, fortunes and sacred
honor to support aud maintain thom.
1t required soven years OF war and tho
sacrifice OF both life and fortune, busnot
OF honor, to succeed. From tho exper-
fence aud knowledge gained by
our forefatheB in the struggle
with England for Independence
they came to feel thGt something more
than the articles Of confederation were
necessary to preserve tho fruits OF the
victory they had gaiued. A better and
stronger government was needed, and
the people OF the United Statos. in 1887,
lin order 10 form more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tran.
guilty, provide for tho common de.
Tense, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings Of liberty" 70 thom-
solves and their poSterity, did 'tordain
and establish" tho constitution for tho
United States Of America.