The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-18

that brought the nation into being sustained
it in all subsequent civil and military crises
through which it has safely pas sed, will con-
time to preserve this beloved land of ours
tor civil and religious freedom through all
future generations.
The Congresses that assembled before and in
the first two years of the war were purely
voluntary bodies without legal authority or
power to enact laws, but wholly dependent
upon the adoption by the people of the
colonies acting separately for carrying out
every measure recommended. The articles OF
confederation adopted by Congress November
Is, 1777, while in form a government and
compact between all the colonies, were in
practice little better. Congress under them
had no power to levy taxes or regulate
foreign or domestic commerce. 1t could only
make requests, and the colonies complied or
refused as they pleased, and acted slowly,
lrresolutely and sometimes factionally. This
weakness anu irresolution caused the army
under Washington at Valley Forge during the
winter Of 1777 to suffer the pangs of hunger,
intense cold ana scant clothing, and marked
the frozen roads with the blood of their shoe
less and wounded feet. The troops in other
localities suffered like privations from the
same cause.
With all this suffering, privation and pow
erty the troops continued steadfast in the
struggle for liberty and loyal to their immor-
tai leader. 1t is easy to be brave when the
actor is the observed Of all observers" and in
spired by 'the pomp and circumstance OF
glorious war;; but the private solder, who
faced danger, hunger, death and wants at the
same time and not once, but through years OF
doubt and disaster, were heroes
Then to side with truth is noble when we share
her wretched crust
Ere er cause bring fame and profit and It's pros
porous to be Just;
Then it is the brave man chooses. while the cow
ard turns aside,
Doubling in his abiect spirit till his Lord is cruel
fled,
And the multitude makes virtue of the faith they
had denied.
Many of the gallant soldiers sleep in name
less graves, widely scattered but the whole
world is their sepulcher, and this Republic,
stretching from ocean to ocean, and from the
Gulf of Mexico TO the great inland seas, inter-
spersed with handicapped mountains and
mighty rivers, bearing on their broad bosoms
the travel and commerce OF a continent, with
its network of railroads and telegraphs, its
vast industrial interests, charitable and edu-
cational institutions, its happy hearts and
homes, is their neveT-ending eulogy.
On the Sd day of September, 1888, the final
treaty of peace was signed at Paris by which
"free, sovereign and independent states" The
country, handicapped with the inherent
weakness of the "articles OF confederation
made comparatively little progress until the
meeting of the convention that framed our
present constitution, which was ratified by
nearly all the States during the year 1888.
The mem bers of the convention were wise,
sagacious and patriotic, and the constitution
they prepared and the government they Or
ganized was founded upon principles in many
respects differing loom any then known to
history has stood for more than q century the
test OF foreign war, domestic Instruction and
rebellion and the sudden and violent parox-
ysms of passion into which the country has
been plunged more than once; and is to-day
in all lands where self-government is recog-
nized guide and model.
That constitution declared that mo title of
nobility shall be granted by the United
States,' that no religious test shall ever be
required a qualification to any office or
public trust under the United States,' and by