The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-05

3
period from 1880 to 1890, $4,000 people,
farm owners in the lands east of the
Mississippi river, lost their homes and
independence; Notwithstanding the
increase in populations; in 1890 there
were $1,000 farm owners less than in
1880. Ninety-siX out of. every 100 peo-
pie in New York, our greatest city,
the triumph of modern civilization are
! brought up without Independent
ownership of the soil, which is wide
enough for every man to dwell under
ms own roof and fig tree. Liberty is not
nag. We cannot be said to be a ma
ton Of freemen unless we are a ma
ton OF home owners. And this brings
TO US here in this particular part of
the United States, front to front with
/ the duty of the hour If you would
dwell in land of freemen, then in
slst upon it with all your power that
the possibilities of individual owner
snip of home and fireside shall be ex-
tended to every one of our fellow citi-
zens. We can abolish tyranny of
class when we can make of every man
home owner 1t is not for us today to
discuss the wider duties in other
lands. Today we should learn a les
son of our duty. There is room
enough here, in the arid lands of the
west, TO more than compensate to any
extent for all the rest of the United
states If 1t were wiped off the map.
Here IS the place, here in Ogden City,
whose energetic men are thoroughly
alive to the possibilities of the hour,
which should be the empress of the
new civilization. Here is the place to
establish that principle from which
we will not deviate, and strive to do
our duty as our fathers did theirs.
A new declaration Of independence
Should be made, and to it should be
'ttached law by which all the arid
lands of America should be thrown
open to American citizens. 1t is not
usually the proper thing to attempt
practical instruction on such a day as
this; yet no man can say anything in
regard to the homeless and defense
less ones without believing that every
where he should raise his voice in be-
half of making this a land of free
men, And when that day shall come
here in Utah, the empire of the west,
will be happy homes and firesides,
which, under the operation of equal
law, will see every man as king,
and every woman as queen.
Judge Powers Speaks.
Hon. o. w. Powers. of Salt Lake,
was next introduced. He said:
Fellow Citizens:-The thought comes
to me this morning that ten years ago
today, in this very park, surrounded
by many of you who are here present,
made my first public speech in the
territory Of Utah, and, as | recollect
that day, 1 cannot but recall the adj
Vancement that has been made. the
steps that have been taken forward,
and how we have progressed as a
people. Then. we were torn with strife
and contention; the idea of statehood
was far from the thoughts and minds
of men. Since then, there has come a
peace; we have grown nearer and near
er to each other; we have taken each
other by the hand. and we all stand for
Utah and our country. divided though
we may be on political questions. 1t is
a gratifying thought that this empire
has thus progressed. Coming as l do
in succession to the elOquence OF the
Orator who has just preceded me,
speaking after the admira BILE rendition
of the Declaration of Independence
what can say that will make you
better citizens? The thought of this
great nation is a plea that should
warm every heart with love for our
country. Oh. land of liberty, land of
Washington, of Jefferson. and of Lin
coin, on this, thy natal day, we salute
thee. (Applause)
1t seems but yesterday, as we read
the pages of history. since Independ-
ence hall was thronged with the men
who laid the foundation of the state.
We can hear the old bell proclaiming
liberty throughout the land, and to all
the inha bitants thereof. AS we think
of them, it is for US to- consider the
practical thoughts suggested. This is
a day for US to consider practical ideas
confronting this government, to real
ize that eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty, and l sometimes feel that
this people needed a new Declare ton
o. Independence When the money
earned by the sweat of the brow of
our laborerS goes to build palaces for
the titled pawn brokers of England,
feel that we should have a new Dec
laratiOn of independence. When our
girls are traded off for titles 1 again
feel that there should be new Declar-
alton Of Independence; and 1 some
times feel that if the same people who
are now controlling the affairs of this
government lived in 1776, instead of is
suing that Declaration of independence,
they would have requested a confer
ence of the soVereigns of all the earth
20 consider the adviSability of issuing
such a document. Great applause)
Judge Powers then paid his respects
n scathing terms to the late
bond deal, asserting that the
lltleQ paWn-DrOkefS OF England
cleared from nine to twelve
million dollars on the transaction, and
asked where the protest IS going up
over this "a voice, by the ballot.')
He asked his hearers to consider that
In 1875 there were no political parties;
if it was a good idea then, it was just
as good now, and the American people
should adopt country before party |
Great applause.)
He asked his audience for a new
declaration, putting them as Ameri- /
cans against the world. He eXhorted
them to be Americans, not Anglo |
naniacs; be better citizens than they |
have been, and above all be loyal to
their country and loyal to its prin-
;ipIes.
THE responsibility resting upon us
at the present time is greater than /
that borne by the people of the states. {
Here, in these lovely valleys, where +
he giants of the Rocky Mountains |
stand guard we look into the cradle |
If a young commonwealth. Its lullabys |
are sung by the canyons breezes, as
I looks up into skies as blue as those /
IF the land of song. Its infant hands |
are tearing from the soil the primeval |
sage brush and covering the plains |
With lucerne. It's playthings are the I
miners pick and drill, and its dowry I
Will be the gold and silver, the iron /
md the copper which God, ages ago, t
placed within the treasure vaults of |
he mountains: its fruits and its grain,
is salt and its marvellous productions |
If earth will yet drive hunger from /
vearied homes. God grant that this I
,hild of the nation may, with each |
;ucceeding wear grow more worthy of !