The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-03-05
SALTWATER, MINNESOTA, MARCH 5, 1896.

oppression and exaction of a despica
BILE sovereign, there was wrung from
the hands of king John the famous
magma Charta," of which the most
important feature is the protection Of
life, liberty and property from arbi-
trary spoilation. Here was set in mo-
ton that fundamental doctrine, in
herent in our natures, and desired by
every mantle enjoyment of civil, po
litical and religious freedom.
Among the last of the nations,
weighted down by oppression, racked
by the tumults of war, and immersed
in blood, was that of our own fair
Columbia. AS stand on her glorious
soil some beautiful evening when ''the
moon, already high in the heaven and
nearly full, seems to mingle its silvery
beams with the suns radiance reflected
from the western sky, see star behind
star glitter in the armament, and still
more distant clusters tax the vision to
separate star from star, and yet more
remote nebula lead the mind back in
to infinite space" 1 gaze upon the
lofty trees standing about me in all
their wild luxuriance, forming aloft,
as it were, new heaven of verdure; |
hear the 'cathedral music in the con-
fused noise of her mountain streams"
[ contemplate the splendor of her on
rushing rivers; 1 view the illimitable
grandeur of her high hills whose pure
fountains and limpid rivulets murmur
through deep and rocky dells, and [
wonder it this fair3land is destined for
freedom. Her noble sons, in whose
bosoms the fires of liberty are burning,
respond to my query by throwing off
the yoke Of injustice that holds them
in subsection, and announcing that they
are ready to die that their country may
be exempt from the imposition of Eng
land. They are resolved not to be i'm
posed upon and show their determina-
tion by shouldering their muskets and
marching out to meet the foe.
In the providence Of God leading
spirit is always sent forth to master
the exigencies of the age. So in Amer
lea a mighty commander was raised
up to whose indomitable spirit was
due, in a large measure the fOrtitude
and constancy of that heroic army in
suffering prolonged hardships. Led on
by this brave general, Columbia's sons
by great military achievement, the
crowning victory at Yorktown, were
released from government under
which they had borne long oppression
, This was glorious day for America
, and we give all honor to that accom-
plished warrior, George Washington
, Washington as he stands before us in
the light of history; Washington as he
is preserved for us in the records O1
our nation; Washington as energetic
as Napoleon, as sagacious as Lee
1 Washington invincible in resolution
incorruptible in integrity, and unhesi
, tating in decision of character; Wash
Y ington the revolutionary leader, agains
: whom no questionable transaction hal
I ever been alleged; Washington th'
J. military hero, the champion Of nationa
\ liberty, the father of American indie
: pendence.
t American people should feel legiti
q mate pride in the victories whic]
n were achieved, and the qualities whic
h were shown by her warrior, patriot
t and statesman Washington, in con
). test with a nation which neither tn
e ambition of Louis XIV, nor the powe
e of Napoleon could dismember, CAV
It her the first rude shock which she ha
IL received. He obtained freedom fo
vt his native land, which soon formed
e government of the people, by the pee
S: pie, and for the people"
7e Over century has rolled by sine
" our country was released from
y foreign yoke, but l come today to as
the question, are, we free? Is thel
a no tyrant welding the scepter
N America, and depressing her mob
n. sons? Going through the cities al
ne villages of our nation, [ can see
IN power more cruel than that of En-
he land; a monarchy whose agents a