The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-10
THE EXEMPTS CHEER "OLD GLORY. !"

It is fitting for Us to salute that flag which
has Just been unfurled-the flag that has
represented the honor of the American
Republic such as no individual has ever
represented 1T. We salute that flag be-
cause it has waved above men who, with
outsa thought of their personal advantage,
considered only the honor of their coun-
try and were willing to sacrifice their lives
and fortunes for the glory of their native
land.
"In saluting the flag we honor also the
memory of the men who, fifty years ago
In this very square, at the hour OF nigh
noon, proclaimed the same message that
was proclaimed long before in the old
State House at Philadelphia. We do
honor to the memory of those by whom
Mexican soil was made no longer Mexican,
but consecrated to liberty and freedom.
Fifty years have gone by since the
great proclamation, sent from the ship in
Monterey Bay, was read here on this spot.
Fifty years have passed since American
settlers began to come here and to take up
their abodes in this, Gods :own land. In
these fifty years Old Glory has done nobly
and bravely, but in the coming fifty years
it will do still greater things. We do not
now wish to speak OF the disadvantages OF
other Governments, but of the advan-
tages of the people who came here fifty
years ago and of the legacy which they
have left US.
although we are million strong in
California, few of us fully realize the
beauty and glory of the inheritance which
has been left US. We do not sufficiently
appreciate the grandeur of our noun
tains, keeping watch over the valleys on
which, it has always seemed to me, God
has poured out all the blessings he had
left after the sixth day of creation. Not a
single blessing is lacking, of land, of
water or OF sky, in the glorious endow-
ment which nature has made upon Cali
fornia.
Native sons and native daughters
should be more grateful than any others
for the glorious patrimony which Sloat
and his brave men have left them. l hone
they are grateful, but sometimes I fear
they 90 not feel sufficient gratitude. Is it
enough for US to stand in TIE presence of
to say that Sloat was good fellow? You
all have duties to perform-the duty of
securing to yourself the gift of freedom so
grandly won for you.
Instead of running to listen to every
heresy, instead of being swayed by every
appeal to your passions, there should be
one sentiment that should bind you to-
gether-the sentiment that this country,
no matter how much divided by parties,
is greater than the State, and that the
State is greater than any party. We
should also realize that, no matter no W
seriously this country may be divided on
questions of church and state, there should
be guaranteed freedom of religious belief
to every man so long as he is loyal to this
country.
1--WE are on the eve of great contest
between parties. It matters little which
shall triumph, so long as the honor of the
constitution is upheld and the people re-
main loyal to the flag, so long as under
GODS heaven there shall be but one thing
to be protected with honor-the honored
folds of Old Glory"
At the conclusion of the outdoor cere-
monies the Exempts and their invited
guests adjourned to the upper hall OF the
company's eng1ne-house, where an infor-
NAL reception was held. The hall had
been beautifully and significantly deco
rated for the occasion. Draped with the
National colors numerous pictures of vet
eran tiremen were about the walls. About
each OF these pictures groups of hoary-
headed firemen were gathered all after
noon, and many were the thrilling remi-
niscences OF daring deeds of long ago that
the representations OF features of leaders
long since departed called forth.
The presidents desk was ornamented
with huge bouquets and between these
were the trumpets through which the
old officers were wont to direct their men.
These trumpets were also traught with
pleasant memories; in fact 1t was a day of
memories and the old boys who ran with
the machine when the century was in its
prime grew young again as they viewed
the emblems OF former struggles with the
devouring element.
Prominent among the decorations was a