The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-31


oerlvaoie from Its accomplishment
win this rule In view, II is necessar
that we glance back at the status =
governments before this nation wa
FORMED. Until that great axiom of hu
man condition framed by Jefferson an
embodied In the Declaration of Independ
ence of the United States, that Ali me-
are created equal" was promulgated NJ
government had given action 10 sucl
thought, and no such condition had oh
tanned among men. True II is that re
publics had heretofore existed. but baset
upon other ideas of equality; eoualit,
limited to a class, governed nv a class
and Office and honor resting in a class
At the time when Jefferson gave existenc,
10 tnat great conception of human rights
and II was embodied in a system of gov.
| eminent established after the insenend.
ence of the United States was won by
the patriotic devotion of this people In
tneir struggle against England; the gov
| ernments OF the world were based on
| other and contrary ideas. from, the most
autocratic where the lives and propertv
or all his subjects was at the will of the
sultan, or car. emperor, prince or grand
duke down TO the most liberal of what
were called the constitutional govern
ments system of feudalism generally
ootaineo' The ruler was the arbiter of
the lives and fortunes of his subjects. and
from him by a graduation of mobiles TO the
people who were a little better than
slaves.
Occasionally some great mind srasping
at the thought given being by Jefferson.
would cry out against this system. claim
ing rights for humanity; but they were
silenced either in death or in the living
tomb of the dungeon.
The United States entered on its course
as a nation with the equality of man as
lts central idea and the giving to each
ana all an equal share in the govern
ment; brakes and safeguards were pro-
vided the executive. legislative and Judi
cial functions were made supreme in
their spheres, yet each to an extent hav-
ing supervisory control over the other:
the people had unlimited liberty within
the law; public needs and public defense
pelng the basis for taxation and taxation
permissible only by the suffrage of the
taxpayer or his self-elected representa-
i've; public lands the peoples to be ac-
CURED under the law and when acquired
10 become absolute defensable solely to
a public purpose and then only after full
was paid therefor All per-
sonal and property rights absolutely Sc |
cured 10 the individual: the fullest and |
freest field for personal progress open alb
solute freedom of conscience to worship |
God when and how one pleased or not at |
all. Education free, untrsmmeled by con-
ditions.
The United States became the beacon
light of Liberty. its power of refulgence
grew stronger and stronger until its light
shown into the darkest dungeons of tyr
rany. The world grew happier in its ex-
stence. But on the morning of the 18th
Of April. 1861. there went forth from a
mortar in battery near Fort johnson, |
Charleston Harbor, a shell shrieking
through the air and curving. burst on
Fort Sumpter. The flag of the United
states was fired upon. Rebellion the most
that ever existed was inaugu-
'ated and IL states OF the union withdrew
rom the compact that made the nation.
The Shrek of that shell as it curved
through the air on its course to Sumpter
brought a shrek of horror from the OPP
PRESSED people of the world and a cry of
oy from kings and their satellites. They
lad watched the phenomenal progress of |
he republic with jealousy. It's great sue
'ess as government was becoming dam
yerous to the continuance of their power;
hey laughed in their joy. This" thay
aid. lis the beginning of the end-the
'reat republic is Observed, ii made won
erful advancement because circum-a
tances were favorable, but IT could not
ontinue-it could not be stable for king !
oms alone have stability" and they
damned and plotted and aided in arous-
ng. fomenting, helping and furnishing
materials to maintain the rebellion and
nus destroy the government that had
roved the fallacy of their systems.
iexico was forced TO take an emperor.
anada was to be given to some primo
ng of the House of Hanover Central
no South America was to be divided
mong German princes and the system of
was to be instituted in Amer
"a
Is this a fanciful picture? Look back
I the time and you will see the canvass
lready prepared, the outline sketched
nd part of the scene skillfully drawn.
Four years of war was the bloodiest
nd most gigantic the world ever saw.
he loss of more than 400 900 lives and the
Spenditure of over IS. OOO, 600 200, the Gre
ion of a vast debt for supplies and the
st obligation to care for the MANNED
nd the sick and the widows and or
hans of the dead were the cost to the
ltion. The cost to the men who marched
the rain and sun with food inadequate
Id unwholesome and without nightly
letter cannot be computed. Comrades.
u bear the effect to-day. Thirty-one
'ars OF civilized life has not been suffi-
ent to eliminate the effects on your
dies of the hardshps of your cam
Ligns. and what can be said of the three p
four years taken from your early man.
'od on your several avocations but all
Is counted nothing with you; there was L
duty to be done-the honor of the flag
id the integrity of the union was to be -
and you performed this duty. q
lie rebellion was to be put down and YOU
1t. and to the workshop, to the store. :,
the office. to the pillow. to the building.
the pulpit and the altar. to the bar to
new the argument and to take the ~.
veral avocations you had left, you ~
liked The largest army ever organ
a disappeared in a night. leaving no q,
ect but the grand results OF a nation
we'd. Popular government confirmed
d strengthened; and as the advancing c,
es washes out the writing on the sand
the sea shore, so was record of trea-
7 washed out and victor and van p,
ished took up alike the full panoply of
izenship and entered on its duties.
ander victory was never won The Pc
'ernment of the people proved stronger
IN any monarchy. Even i'm it's stipend
war the progress of the country was 6