The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-06
Special Dispatch to the Post-In.elligencer

Special Dispatch to the Post-In;elligencer.
WHATCOM. July a-Meas ured by the
standard OF noise and numbers. by which
IL is customary to gauge the success OF
Fourth df July celebrations. today's OBJ
servance OF the great national holiday
here has been one OF the most successful
IN the history Of Whatcom.
Since last Friday trains, steamboats,
salboats, canoes and wagons have
brought crowds OF people 20 the city, and
today the gaily decorated streets fairly
swarrned with men, women and children
of ali ages and sizes and almost all Amer
lean degrees OF civilization
Indians have been conspicuous in the
crowds on all sides. The beach inside the
viaduct is lined with their canoes. tents
and improyised shelters. and there is a
large camp between Holly and Sylvan
streets. near the Ferris wheel and merry
GO-rouud. which are a source OF constant
attraction for them. There are hundreds
of them here from the La Conner flats 10
the Chilliwhack. and as rule they are
well dressed and orderly. One OF the
most interesting attractions has been the
Chiliwh8ck Indian band. an excellent or
ganization which must have had the adj
vantage of good instruction and good dis
ctpline. They were entertained at dinner
today by Capt. Roeder. the venerable pio-
neer. who was friend OF the chiefs of
the Chilliwhacks a third OF a century or
more ago.
No effort was made this year 10 get up
general parade, a parade OF bicyclists be-
ing substituted instead. There were a
large number OF wheels in line, and their
decora tons were nearly all attractive and
many of them unique.
Following the parade, the literary exer
cises took place at the Sylvan street
grounds. where they were attended by
several thousand people. GOV. Rogers,
who delivered the principal address, ar
rived by steamer this morning and was
met by a committee and escorted to the
Byron house. where he was waited upon
and welcomed to the city by a committee
Of five members OF the Board OF Trade.
headed by President Irish. At the con-
Clusion OF his address he teok lunch ut
the hotel. and left on the o'clock train
for Seattle.
His address had been most carefully
prepared and iype-written. and he gave
due warning 10 the newspaper men pres
ent not TO misquote him. telling them that
he would be able TO furnish them copies
if desired He declared his belief that par
tisan politics ought 10 he tabooed on such
an occasion. and then launched forth into
a presentation of his favorTte theories OF
government. and a somewhat critical
analysis Of the Federal and state consti-
the belief that our constitution il all
right and our form of government is all
right" which relieved his hearers some
what. but ne has scant respect for our
statute laws. which. he says. have contra
vened the manifest wishes and intentions
of the nations founders. He argued that
men in high places are wont TO scott al
the principles of the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence as inapplicable 10 present con-
difion and res sarpd that In this growing
tendency, as alleged. may be found what
he seems really TO consider a menace to
the perpetuity of the republic.
Among other things PREDATORY 10 his ad-
dress proper he said that he had never
made any statement I'm any published
work or in any Published speech which he
did not believe 10 be absolutely true. He
spoke earnestly and clearly. and his adj
dress was listened 10 with marked atten
ton. bat with little demonstration either
OF approval or dissent
The progra anime OF sports was success
fully and enthusia stically carried out this
afternoon with only n slight change and
but ore omission, that Of tho tug Of war.
There were horse. pony and bicycle races
on Sylvan street and two exciting Indian
canoe races on the bay between the LuT-
mis- and La Corners. the Lummis taking
first money il each.
The day has been cool and pleasant.
with no rain until late this evening, when
the celebration closed with a creditable
display OF fireworks.