The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-07-06
CARTWRIGHT AT CHOTEAU.
Grafton Delivered by Hon. Chas.
Cartwright at Choteau, on
July 4, 1895;

AC certain times, Lne lnnaOlCant Us
of each civilized country, meet to-
gether to celebrate some event in
their history. 1t is usually that
occurrence which marks it's birth
day as an independent nation.
The first day to be specified in
this manner, of which we have any
knowledge, is that of the Jewish
Passover. 1t was instituted to re-
mind the children of Israel of that
time when they went from bondage
to liberty, and assumed a place
among the nations Of tie world.
1t recalls the period when they
marched between the frowning
walls Of water, and Miriam stood
upon the shore and sang the song
of deliverance.
The 4th of July, the day which
sends the blood bounding through
every patriotic heart, brings
wildly to n ind that stormy time
when the standard OF civil: reli>
gious and political liberty, was
erected upon the western CONT
nent.
The mariner upon the ocean,
carries with him costly chronom-
eter which is set to the time of
some standard meridian. Where
ever he is, amid the desert of wa
ters, he takes an observation of the
heavenly bodies, and the difference
between the solar time of the place
where he may be, and that of his
unerring ch 'onometer, gives him
his longitude. 1t is well for us to
pause once year, from the busy
cares and conflicts OF life, and, talk
ing our bearings, ascertain how
far the ship of state may have
drifted from the point of departure.
Born under the flag of freedom
and inhaling the spirit of liberty
with our first breath, we are, per-
haps, not thoroughly alive to it's
blessings. Familiar with the glo-
ries of republican institutions, we
do not realize what would be our
condition without them. 1t is,
therefore, important that the fires
of patriotism be constantly replen-
ished. When we bring freshly to
our minds the circumstances which
surrounded the Declaration of In
dependence, and the almost super
human efforts by which that Dec
laration was maintained, we value
more highly those results which we
today enjoy. To this end was the
4th of July made national holi-
day.
On the 5th of May, 1776, the
Continental Congress declared that
our allegiance to the crown Of
Great Britial was at an end; that
her authority was forever abolished
in the colonies. This was the first
act in the great drama. On the
11th of June committee of four
was appointed to draft a Declara
tion of Independence. Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin and Robert r. Living
ston, were that immortal four. On
the -4th of July the declaration,
which has been so gracefully and
eloquently read to you, was passed
and signed by the representatives
of the people. Thus, 119 years ago
today, the blow was struck which
forever severed us from our mother
country, and
Freedom, from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air."
1t was grand achievement. OF
all the events, which have crowded
the history of the world, but one
other will bear comparison with
this. That was when the lowly
Nazarene stood upon the vine clad
hills of Judea and heralded saliva
tion to needy world. But the
struggle was at terrible cost. 1t
was a cost which never has been,
and never can be, fully measured.
The men of the Revolution were
actuated by that indomitable spirit
of freedom which courted death in
preference to slavery. They would
not bow before the yoke of tyranny
or wear the manacles of despotism.
There were no craven hearts in
that patriot army. AS we follow
them, along the trail of fire and
blood, we are impressed with the
worth Of that for which they
fought. 1t must be some great
thing which will cause men to face
the tempest of war and yield up
life itself. And so it is. Life,
without liberty, is only acceptable
to the coward and the slave.
What wonderful power of the
human mind is that of the imagina-
tion! BY its aid the scenes of the
past are reproduced, with startling
distinctness, upon the mental can
7ass. We can see those scenes
enacted just as plainly as if they