The San Francisco call., 1896-07-04

shores, both Catholic and Protestant, came
because they had no civil liberty at home and
because they could not worship God according
10 their conscience. may say, however, that
when their strong hands had torn down the
nights forests and when in the sweat OF their
brow they had titled the SOIL and when in
peace ard contentment they were worshiping
God according 10 their own hearts the mother
country stretched forth her iron hand to rob
them OF their civil rights. and they at once felt
that their religious freedom was soon to follow
Ihen did they arise i'll their might and cut off
the hand that would smite them. Civil and
religious liberty form the foundation upon
which rests our free institutions, and when
civil ana religious liberty cease 10 be then
shall our Nation cease.
shall not picture for you the scene that
presented itself when those noble men, the
fathers OF our country sat with drawn faces
and with eyes weary with watching for some
ray OF light through the dark clouds that hung
over them; that is beyond my power. But
what joy must have possessed each manly
heart when the vote was taken, and each felt
tnat II Id beat In freedom; that the chains
OF bondage were broken. Then did another
nation spring into life-not weakling, but
full OF power; not unarmed, but prepared for
war. As Minerva did, full panoplied and with
the protecting Egis forth from the brain of
Jupiter spring, so did our Nation from the
brain of Britain, with the Egis of liberty
about her.
In 1872 the young Nation was again forced
to exert herself, and cause her flag to be re-
spected upon the seas.
Later on, in 1923. during the administration
OF President Monroe, the allied powers met at
Verona and declared that the Cortes of Spain
set a bad example in government to the ma
tions of Europe. They resolved that foreign
interference should be used to reinstate Ferdi-
nand and again place him upon his throne.
This was accomplished by France. Then came
the grand protest of President Monroe to the
allied powers, in which he declared:
Still later and in our own day our ancient
enemy made the endeavor TO encroach slightly
upon American soil 1t fills every American
heart with JOY, for it strengthens hope in the
n a hp
Executive in this land, upheld by all the peo-
pie, irrespective of political creed or party, de-
England could be looked upon by this Govern
ment only as an unfriendly act. BY a master
stroke OF diplomacy, Grover Cleveland caused
the Premier OF England to affirm, what he be-
fore denied, that the Monroe doctrine is part
of international law.
We thank God that our country, though
young is vigorous, and that she can bid the
terror of nations, the white-clad specter of the
seas, remain within the confines OF Albion's
Isles.
We are great Nation, and with Gods aid
we shall be greater still. In order that we
may be great we must preserve our free insti-
tutions, we must preserve our civil and relig-
GUS liberty. We must protect the purity OF
the ballot. We must see to 1t that those who
vote are sufficiently educated to know how to
use the franchise, and not to be dupes of un-
principled men. We must see TO it that those
who vote have hearts trained as well as minds,
SO that they understand th at the man who sells
his vote sells his country; that the man who
uses once tor MS own acknowledgements, or Tor
the benefit of, or the enriching OF his friends,
commits crime against his country and a
sin against his God. Nor must we lose sight
of our traditions. Our doors have ever been
open 10 the oppressed OF all nations. If the
oppressed of the nations are fitted for citizen
ship, if they come here TO work and 10 stay,
we bid them enter and remain. We desire no
parasites that would feed upon our prosperity.
We should be more solicitous about driving
from our midst those who have lived long
among US, may say, who have lived long upon
us, without becoming citizens, tina n we should
be about closing our doors to those who come
in search of freedom. The day that we cease
to be the home of the free, that day shall we
cease to be the home of the brave, for it is our
freedom that has made US brave
An American citizen! what a wealth OF
meaning in the terml 1t stands for liberty.
II is power at home. 1t means that every
man in the land is king, with the ballot for
his scepter. 1t means that every woman in the
land is a queen, and that the home adorned
with the jewels of free-born sons and daugh-
ters is the throne, Yhereon both sit in power
and majesty. The Apostle Paul was proud OF
his title. az am Roman CITIZEN" he ex-
claimed, nor dared the Jew or Roman lay un-
hallowed hands upon him. But if the Apostle
Paul thought II well to be a Roman citizen,
how proud should be every man who is able
to claim American citizenship? How proud
should be every apostle who breaches "The
when able to exclaim, "I am an American citi.
Zenr'
Long may America live. Long may she con.
tinue to do the work that God has appoi ted
for her. Long may Columbia stand in the