The record-union., 1895-07-05
GRAFTON OF hon. THOMAS ]. CLUNIE,
Delivered at the 0pera-House in This
City.
An Eloquent Review OF Our Nations
Hisfory-Thoughts for Coming
Generations.

Following is the full text Of the oration
delivered at the Fourth of July exercises
In this city yesterday by Hon. Thomas j..
Clunie On being introduced to the large
Assem- blage Mr.. Clunie said:
Upwards OF twenty-five years have
come and gone since l had the pleasure
of delivering Fourth Of July oration in
Sacramento. The Legislature had made
me 81 years old. A minor had been
authorized to speak in major key and
was selected as orator. was then Ialr-
haired, innocent boy; you would scarcely
believe it to look at me now. On that oc-
easion no one heard or cared to hear
word l said. We were to have bur-
les1ue procession. We were out for fun
and we had it. With the exception OF
my address that celebration was unique
in the history of Sacramento. Many
who were then present have since crossed
the river, and their voices are hushed
forever in the silent tomb.
AS L look over this vast audience | see
new generation, the sons and daughters
OF the men and women who helped to
control the destinies of this mighty State.
Here and there L see one of the old
pioneers, but they are few and far be-
tween. Their labor is done, and well
done. They fought against floods and
fires and never halted in their work until
they built up this beautiful city, the me-
tropolis of the great Sacramento Valley.
know enough OF the present generation
to say that 1t has the ability and enter
prise to keep the Capital City III the front
rank of the progressive march SO ably
inaugurated by the good Old pioneers OF
Sacramento. The day we celebrate is not
only the memorial day of American
liberty. but it is also the day that gives
hope to all the world.
We meet, not as Democrats, Republi-
cans or Populists, not as Catholics.
Protestants or Jews-we are here as
American citizens, to discuss the cost of
civil and religious liberty, and renew our
pledges to sacrifice our lives, if needs be,
to perpetuate il. We were told by the
fathers OF this republic that if we desired
to preserve the priceless heritage given us
by the heroes of the revolution, it was
our duty to keep the fires of liberty
brightly burning. To do this the fuel
should be renewed at least once a year.
When the spirit of patriotism and the
love of liberty dies out, the downfall of
this great repu blic, the wonder of the
nineteenth century, is at hand. We
should, therefore. at each recurring nn1-
versary of our national Independence in
woke the patriotic, liberty-loving spirit
of our revolutionary sires. We should
renew our pledges OF devotion TO the
grandesE Government on earth, ana teach
our children that it is a heritage worthy
OF preservation. even at the peril Of their
lives. They should be made familiar
with the causes that led up to the kevo-
luton. They should be told the condi-
tion of affairs existing in the colonies be-
fore the Declaration of Independence at
which time
GIANT WAS BORN
Whose tread startled all nations. The
rapid strides of the young republic to
greatness, under Constitution that guar
anteed her citizens civil and religious
liberty, should be contrasted with the
dark clouds that hung like pail over the
colonies before the Revolution, which
gave US freedom.
And following out this idea. will en-
deavor to give you a plain statement of
facts as to our condition when the iron
hand of British tyranny held undisputed
sway in this country. and the changes
that have taken place since the birth of
the Republic. A Government of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people
needs only to be understood to be per-
manently maintained. 1t would be we'll
to read in the public schools the Declara-
ton of Independence, the Constitution
of the United States, the Constitution of
the State of California and WashingtOn'S s
farewell address to the American people
These should be guiding stars to the ris-
ing generation, upon whose shoulders th 9
rest.
All things considered, at no period in
the history of the world has inan ap-
peared to so great an advantage as during
the last quarter of the eighteenth CEN
tury. AT no other epoch in the history Of
mankind has the human race emerged SO
rapidly from its old conditions. 1t was
an age in which tradition suffered and
and ancient tyrannleS were startled from
the throne: the institutions Of monarchy
and it's various pillars of support re-
ceiVed blow from which il has never re-
covered. Not only was British oppres-
sion successfully resisted aud overthrown
in America, but also about the same
time in France. The people began a
years resulted in the establishment of
free and enduring republic.
The historian tells US that during the
night of July ii, 17S9, Laincourt caused
Louis XVI. to be aroused to in
form him of the fall of the Bastile. "It
is revolt" cried the King. Sire" re-
piled the Duke, "it is revolution" Here
also revolution sounded its horn, and the
sword of liberty had been unsheathed
against British oppression. AS result
of these revolutions long and rapid
strides were made in the direction of the
emancipation of mankind from the thral-
dom of the past. Old things passed
"a
more free, the other more generous than
the world had yet permitted to exist were
born out of the fruitful anarchy of the
age.
The American Revolution was one of
the most heroic events in the history of
mankind. 1t was not lacking in any ele-
ment of glory, whether considered with
reference to the general causes which
produced 1t, or viewed with respect to the
personal agency by which il was accom-
plished. The struggles of our fathers for
liberty suffer not by comparison with the
grandest conflict OF ancient or modern
times. The motives which these great
men might justly plead for breaking
their allegiance to the British Crown
and organizing q rebellion; the patient
self-restraiut with which they bore for
years a series of agressions and outrages
which they knew to be utterly subver-
slve of their liberty; the calmness with
which they proceeded step by step in the
attempted maintenance of their rights
by reason; the readiness with which
they opened their hearts to entertain the
new angels of liberty; the backwar look
which they cast through sighs and tears
st their abandoned loyalty TO England
the fiery zeal and brave resolves with
which, at last driven to desperation. they
drew their swords, trampled in mire and
blood the banner of St. George, and
raised new flag in the sight of nations;
the personal character and genius of the
men who did 1t, their loyal devotion to
principle, their fidelity. their courage.
their lofty purpose and unsullied patriot
ism; all conspired to stamp the struggle
with imperishable grandeur.
From 1920 TO 1776 we wore the yoke of
political bondage; our affairs were di-
rected by England. From small en-
croachments upon the rights of the colo
pies, the British Government got so st
last that she paid no heed to the rights
Interests or feelings of our people. AS a
consequence we were degraded, insulted,
stepped in poverty and overwhelmed