Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1894-07-07
DELIVERED BY HON. j. +.
AILSHIE AT COTTON
WOOD, JULY 4TH.
MR, PREsrpENT, LADIES and

| iDh-Nii iSAi'irs dltu
| GENTLEMEN
At This time | want to ac-
knowledge my appreciation Of
this opportunity of addressing
you, and ] sincerely regret that
| have not studied Grafton for
you today. A life busy beyond
its capacities has given scanty
time for preparations; But from
sincere purposes and convictions
| shall speak to you this morn
ing in eomradly appreciation Of
that which concerns us nearly
and mutually. viii you allow
me to say that the feelings which
always possess ME when | VEN
ture to address my countrymen
is today quickened to the point
OF conservation, for the merest of
our time is as significant as it is
inspiring. We are today stand
ing in the daybrake Of the End
century of this republic as well
as the l1Sth anniversary of lib
erty and equality; But fixed
stars are fading from the National
sky and we grope in uncertain
light. Strange shapes have
come with the night, established
ways are lost, new roads perplex
and winding fields stretch be-
yond the sight, nothing is stead
fast or approved. Government
is the contention of partisans
and the prey of boodlers trade is
restless in the grasp Of monopo-
lies, and commerce shackled
with limitations, Capital, La
Dor, intellect and genius are
alike belligerAnt and unremuner-
atioe.
The cities are swollen and the
fields are stripped and squalor
crouches in the homes. The uni
versal brotherhood is dissolving
and the people are budding into
classes and organizations. The
hiss OF the Nihilist disturbs the
courts and the roar of the mob
thunders along the highway as
hordes 60 begging bread.
But amid it all throbs and
beats the great American heart
undismayed and standing fast
by the challenge of his own con-
science the citizen of the repub-
lie tranquil and resolute, notes
the drifting of the special cur
rents and calmly awaits the full
disclosure of the brighter day.
And who shall be the heralds of
this coming day7 Who shall
thread the way Of honor and
safety through these besetting
problems? Who shall rally the
people to the defense of liberty? /
You, my fellow citizens, it is
you. 1t is ours to grapple with /
these problems, to confront and |
master these dangers. Ours to
decide whether the tremendous |
forces of this republic shall be
kept IN balance or whether I'm
balanced they shall bring certain
destruction 10 this for SO long
the foster mother of everything
en-nobling and elevating in the
ambition and aspirations Of man.
Whether 65,000y000 of men are
capable Of self government or
whether liberty shall be lost to
them who would give their lives
to maintain it. Today our res
Possibilities are appalling. We
stand III the pass behind which
The worlds liberties are guarded.
With u legion we hold as it were,
the Therlhopylae to the nations.
1t was once said by that
young Georgia patriot, who at a
single effort stirred Faul Hall.
no other fodthefnef ever did /
that, "This government carries
the hopes of the human Iace.
Blot out the beacon that lights
the portals Of this Republic and
The world is adrift again. But
save the Republics establish the
light Of its beacon over the
Troubled waters and one by on6
the nations Of the earth shalt
drop anchor AMI lie at rest IN