The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-07-13
Washburn's Biz Day.

w 00uUulklS 3 DIX O6y.
Owing to the day after the celsbrs stion
being our regular prcss day the LEADx,
WAS forced to curtail its last weeks report
with . promise of continuance in this
weeks tissue. The following 10 the sub.
Joined report:
Mr.. WILL1AM's OEs7loN.
M. Williams was introduced u. the drSt
speaker and gave ustterance to many
patriotic sentiments. Among other things
he said:
"One hundred and nineteen years ago
to day, there wss assembled in Liberty
Hall in the city of Philadelphis, rsprssen-
tativss of thirteen sspersts' and So erclgn
colonies, who had bssn in session for
weeks celebrating upon what action
should be taken to declare themselves
separate and independent from the
mother country; to promulgate to the
world . declaration of principles setting
forth thsia rights and the reasons for de.
clsring themselves free and independent
sovereignties. Their deliberations were
continued throughout The day and long
into the night. The streets leading to
the place whore they were assembled were
crowded with anxious, expeotant faces, as
spon that nights actions hung the dsstin-
les of aation, and the expressions most
often heard IN connection with the sign
ing of the Declaration of Independence
were these passed from mouth to mouth
Of twill they do it," ''dsre they do it,"
The bellman had been stationed IN the
bellfsy tower to announce to the people
assem- bled that the act to severance-the
Declaration of Independence had been
signed. He was an old man, feeble, al
most tottering under weight of years. -
His grandson, young boy had acted as
page in the assembly. He 1t was who
gave notice to the old bellman. Az the
last name was signed to that immortal
document he ran out upon the balconies
and cried "Ring, Gandps, ring" and the
old bellman in the performanc Of his duty
rang out the clear tones of Liberty which
vibrated on the midnight air, which was
taken up and resounded from place to
place until it had spread the length and
breadth of our country then civilized. The
old bell now stands in Liberty Hall
cracked and dumb. Both the old bellman
aud his grandson have long since been
called to their Anal reward, but tho sound
of Liberty then struck, has cJntinued to
vibrats and re-vibrate until to-day not a
country but has felt its influence, and has
furnished pilgrims whe have worshiped at
its shrine.
It wore useless for me to talk to you Of
bloody struggles of our forefathers and
establishing this republic, They are mat
ters of history which you are all we'll &C.
qsainted. Suffice 1t to say that wnen the
Revolutionary soldier took his life IN his
hand and went out to do battle for the
freedom of his country, little did he care
whether tho kissing bullets sung his sud.
den requiem or the chrords o. life were
severed by the SHARP steel, if only victory
might porch upon tho banner of his
country. With varied svccesses that war
was waged until the mother country cap
itulated and granted our demands. We
then occupied only small strip Of terri
tory along the Atlantic seaboard, and the
dense forests of Ohio, Inniana, the broad
pfairies Of 1llinois, and the grest unknown
country which lies beyond, was inhabited
only by the roaming savage. Then the
shrek of the steam whistle had never
been heard; then men went down to sea
only in wooden vessels, and the many use.
ful and convenient devices and machines
used by the husbandman and manufactur.
Or we're unknown. Bow we'll We have
prospered since that time, and how We
hav eadded to our territory, bu,ldsd cities
navigated rivers. spanned the land with
iron threads which convey both passen-
gers and freight with speed and safety
from ocean 70 ocean, are things too we'll
known in our history to be repeated BY
me.
To accommodate the march of civilxa-
tion the frontier has gradually been
pressed westward until is has finally
reached the shores of tho Pacific. An
empire OF waste has bssn redeemed BY in
dustry and thrift and happiness and pros.
perity are the fruits of toll and perse-
versnoe. It is unnecessary for mo to 70.
mind you Of the hsrdships s1durtd by
the pioneers Of this country, ss zee be-
fore ne the faces Of many who have for
twenty years undergone those hardships;
men. women who have seen the broad and
trsekless prair,ss of twenty years ago
dotted with pleasant homes poss essing oil
the eonvsnisaces, and many of the luxur-
les of older States.
It il said thsrs 10 magic In nsme. Yes
there 10 magic in the name sDakota." II
has yibrated and re-vibrated from hun.
drsd million throats. Il has Travelled
westward along the line Of Ansrisa's
greatest trans-eont,nsntal thoroughsarss.
scaling the loftisst pssk Of the Rockies
until II has rsachsa the PasiAs; IL has
travslsd ssswsrd over the broad prairies