Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-05
HISTORIC GROUND.
Vice President Stevenson at
Guilford Courthouse.
IMMORTAL MECKLENDURG.
Place of the First Declara-
ton of independence.
"Let Those be Accounted the Com
mon Enemy Who by Whatever
PrctcNt Would weaken the
Cords That mind All states."


pINtHhpofo, . N.t July 4.-Nlce-freS-
idcnt Stevenson was the attraction at
the Fourth Of July celebration today
ON the historic battlefield Of Guuford
Courthouse. The vice-president was
received enthusiastically and made a
speech in which he said in part
~ re not strangers. The his
tc o. %. 'ditlons Of the old North
S, ~. dear TO me as to your
selv t. I'd that courses through
my ~ t OF the men who.
with yo~ ~ tres, little more
than ce. %. 70 first gave to the
world a dec, l., OF American indie
pendence; the lien who have for all
time linked the name OF Charlotte with
that Of Runnymead and made your
Mecklenburg immortal. In the great
struggle for Independence North Caro-
lima played no mean part. Her sons
stood In the front ranks of those who
first braved the hostillties and resent
ment of the British crown, Her sons
were the first To realize the necessity
for separation and the establishment Of
American Independence.
'It must not be forgotten. Mr.. Pres
ident, that the love OF liberty and the
hatred of tyranny which found eN-
precision in the Mecklenburg dcclara-
ton of May 20. 1777, touched re-
sponsive chord in the breasts Of the
ancestors OF many Of those j now have
the honor to address
Sounded n Keynote of Independence.
''rhe men who penned this declara-
ton builded wiser than they knew.
In pledging their lives and fortunes
to resisting British oppression they
sounded the keynote OF the national
declaration of independence which lis
years ago this day was proclaimed by
the continental congress at Philadel-
phia. To North Carolina then belongs
the imperishable honor of having taken
the first steps toward securing to the
American colonies Independence of the
British crown. 1900.
"But what OF the future? What Will
be the verdict of history as TO the
achievements Of the present genera
ton? In all that makes a state truly
great In worth is not to lag behind
or to keep even pace with her sis
ter commonwealth In the century
upon which we are soon to enter. With
an area Of more than 10000 square
miles, stretching from the seaboard. 500
miles TO the western borders, with
breadth of 200 miles from north TO
SOUTH with a soil happily adapted to
the supply Of all material wants: with
n climate unsurpassed upon the con-
tinent; traversed from north to south,
from pine forests to mountain fast
nesses by railroads. her mountains
overlooking with every variety OF min
eral wealth-in word, so abundantly
blessed with natures choicest gifts
North Carolina, | am persuaded, MIR.
President, is Just entering upon a ca
reer of wonderful material prosperity.
We Are All Americans.
"Thls is, indeed, Mr. President, the
fitting hour and place for this great
assemblagc. Today. the Fourth Of July,
there are no state lines or sections, but
whether our abiding place be on the
banks OF the st, John or of the Co
lumbia, whether on the eastern sea-
board or near the great Father OF
Waters. we are all Americans. Thank
God, we are all citizens Of common
country with a common flag,
common destiny. Standing
upon this historic spot, con-
secrated by the blood OF heroes, we
lift UP our hearts in gratitude to God
that he has been pleased to vouchsafe
to our fathers and to us sleh coun-
try. Under this nag We have In the
largest degree llberty-not the license
OF the anarchist-but liberty regulated
by law. The sons OF the heroes II
Kings Mountain and OF Guilford can
never forget that this is a symbol OF
constitutional liberty. the eternal gym
Dol OF 'indivisible, OF indestrucu-
BILE states
You should never forget that all
OF your hopes and aspirations are
bound up In the constitution Of our
fathers, Guard this constitution as the
very ark Of the covenant. At what
ever cost. the federal union. this grand
union OF people and OF states. be-
queathed to us by our fathers, must
be the heritage OF the future genera
lions OF om' countrymen. Let those
be accounted the common enemy who
by whatever pretext would weaken the
cords that bind together all states and
sections Of our country In fraternal
union"