Evening star., 1896-07-04

is too seldom brought to mind, the real
part played by the Divine Power I'm the
hberation OF our land. There is a clear
Manifesto ton of Providence in the day We
celebrate. When man began his career on
the earth he was mere brute as Ignorant
o. OF law as OF religion. 1t was only by
Gods untiring effort that man has been
Drought TO realization of the true mean
ing OF the family, then of the village of
the state, and finally Of the nation 10 re-
die for them.
This has only been accomplished by the
breaking down of the superstitions and fe-
tches that bound him. For many years
man lived with certain conceptions as TO
the principles of government that he
reNered his religion. He worshlped the di-
Vine right of kings. and a hundred years
before the Declaration OF Independence
was signed tho mere suggestion of such an
action as the breaking off of a colony from
the central monarchy would bring down on
It's advocate the death of a martyr. True
there had been attempts to break off the
shackies OF tyranny. but they were un-
successful. Oliver Cromwell had essayed
TO crush the mcnarchical power in Eng
iand, end for time he seemed 10 sue
ceed, but he, too, failed, and the kingiy
power returned. only to be shaken when
our fathers signed this immortal document
and by their deeds and sacrifices gave II
effect and life.
Providence I'm History.
What but Providence made IL possible
that on this continent and by our people
this struggling sentiment of liberty in the
breast of mankind should have its fruition?
Providence in history is not a mere figure
of speech. not a fetch. That event in Phil
adeiphia one hundred and twenty years ago
proclaimed the eternal voice of Cod!
Before those glorious words were
thrown on a startled world there he'd been
premonitions of them. murmurinRs OF the
coming trouble, but vain were they until
nf anf In
took the coming together of patriot heads
and hearts and the formulation of the i'm
mortal document to make liberty ac-
tuaity and not a mere form of speech.
An English historian has well said that the
Declaration OF Independence should be
hung in every English nursery. and en-
blazoned on the porch of every royal pal
ace.
''Oh. 1 know I'm talking Fourth OF July
That's what I'm here for. That's what
want to talk. That's what ought to be
talked more and more every year. 1t is a
good thing to talk and to feel Fourth OF
July. 1t inspires better citizenship. bet
ter manhood We must think over the
great deeds that we celebrate on this day.
TO consider what they mean, to realize what
sufferings they entailed, I'm order TO appre-
ciate the great blessings that are ours this
day. 1t is a hard thing to get a man to
make fight unless he sees some glimmer-
Ing OF chance to win ahead of him. 1t
may be faint, 1t may be elusive, but 1t
must be there to give him heart and cour-
age. He wants to see the fruits of his
sacrifice. Those men who fought in the
last century to build up this nation were
confronted with a gloomy prospect. They
were facing England with her mighty
power, with her endless resources. and her
great prestige. But they knew they were
right. The time had come to act They
were impelled by force greater than
themselves. and they went On to vistory
with only the Inspiration of their con-
sciences and their native love of freedom
fs nf hA nuur
pendence.
There is nothing in the whole range OF
human history of which the visible results
are today SO clearly apprecable as Of the
Declaration signed that great day one
hundred and twenty years ago. To what
else do We owe that universal spirit of re-
ligion and of political freedom that now
pervades our land? To what else do we
owe this unbounded prosperity that is ours?
To what else is due our great advancement
as people and nation? At the same
stroke that wiped away the cobwebs of
antiquity In government those patriots
gave eternal root to an immortal idea that
Is today fourishing and spreading i.s
beneficent influence over all the world
Don't let us underrate that influence
Don't let us fear to be chided for spea king
sentiment on such occasions. We do not
f1nd knot of men anywhere in this world
To-Day who start TO speak of human liberty
who do not draw their inspiration from the
Declaration of Independence. There was
no such great event in the whole range of
history. Yet We are apt TO forget its cost
and the principles that lay beneath that
wonderful effort 1t is our duty TODAY TO
foster an appreciation OF those PRINCIPLES
and to carry them into our civic life. There
may be corruption here and there in The
body polite of our nation, and improper
motives may occasionally prevail to pro-
duce evil effects, but the right is sure to
triumph.
I'VE tread beneath our feet the Declsra-
ton of Independence IL We forget the
warm hearts and noble souls of the men
who made it an actuality, and we degrade
their memories. Let us. then, foster a ra-
spect for them and for their deeds. Let us
carry that respect with in our daily
lives. There can be no civic duty well per-
formed that is not inspired by the Declara-
tion.
ApOstrOphe to the Flag.
Let us remember, too, that that day
one hundred and twenty years ago fur
nished with a standard that is an in
spiration and revelation; that glorious
flag &c which. thank God. another star is
today added; the flag that is typical of the
nation and of the sacrifices that caused its
creation. 1 can bespeak my reverence for
that glorious banner in no better words
than those Of the poet, who, though doubt
| less younger than most of those who face
me today. yet wrote words that will al
ways thrill the heart of an American citi-
zen. John Rodman Drake
when Freedom from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air.
She tore the azure robe of night
And set the stars of glcry there.
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
] The milky baldric OF the skies,
And stripped its pure, celestial white
With strealSings of the morning light
Flag of the free hearts hope and home,
BY angel hands to valor given!
| Thy stars have lit the welkin dome
And all thy hues were born in heaven
! Forever float that standard sheet,
Where bre athes the foe but falls before us
With Freedoms soil beneath our feet
And Freedoms banner streaming O. er us?'"
There was loud applause when Mr. Davis
concluded, and he was heartily congratulat-
ed by those around him on the platform
The band played Hail Columbia" while
all rose to their feet and the ceremonies
were closed with brief benediction by