The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-08-12
SPEECH OFHON. ". ". KITcHIN
DELIVERED IN WASHINGTON
CITY ON JULY sth, 1897.

AT Inc independence CeleDf2t10n hel
in the Grand Opera House Under
the Auspices Of the National
Association of the Demo-
cratic Clubs.
Ro1b0ro Courier.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN
l. Following SO many distinguish
and eloquent orators whose burnin
words you have heard with delight,
hesitate to attempt to occupy the limit
ed time requested Of me on this glori
GUS day, but residing as do in tina
great State on whose sandy shores rest
ed the first Anglo-Saxo anchor thai
eyer touched the United States, in
whose domain the first child of Eng
lish parents in America was born, or
whose historic soil the first American
blood was shed resisting the extortlor
of English rule and foreign oppression
and whose fearless and patriotic citi
zens, more than thirteen months before
the occurrence OF that great declaration
! we to-day celebrate, met in convention
and deliberately proclaimed themselves
free, Independent, self-governing PEG
pie, would be unworthy to rejoice in
her history, if did not respond when
her name is called on an occasion like
this, when liberty is the theme, and
when Independence is the thought OF
every nearer. The same desire for
justice, the same love of liberty, the
same determination to resist wrong,
still actuate her people as in those old
days when her resolute sons boldly fore
ed the stamp master at Wilmington to
solemnly swear not to execute the du-
ties of his Office. It was in those trou-
blous times when English tyranny
still lowered over the land that an
English commander, Lord CORVALLIS,
wrote to friend, of North Carolina
town, that Charlotte was an agreeable
village but in id rebellious county,"
It was from this "Hornets' Nest" that
the first sting went to the heart of
King Georges power here.
Mr.. Chairman, four generations have
passed since then, and annually have
the sons Of the brave colonists thanked
God for the grand victory which Wash
Ington's men won for human rights,
and for the generals of Jefferson, Mad
son and their great coadjutors who
shaped the destiny of that victory.
We are told that Ponce de Leon
amid the tangled forests OF
he new world In vain for the fountain
of perpetual youth for individuals, but
Jefferson and his compatriots searched
lmong the theories OF great republics
ind mighty monarchies which had
lourished and decayed and amid the
Widest dreams of governmental philoso-
'hers, and found, let us trust, the foun-
ain OF perpetual youth for government.
he waters of this fountain will forever
low for government of the people, by +
he people, and for the people. As
ong as mankind is capable of develop-
nent so long should our system of
overnment stand. With the strength
t youth still on us, with more than
evenly millions of the most active. in
,lligent and progressive people the
'orld has ever seen, we need fear, we
o lear no foreign danger.
Do we regret the growth of power in
European Nations? No. For while
9 contemplate that the Russian Bear
rapidly ascending the mountain sides
true greatness and national emin-
ace, and behold the British Lion oc-
1pying the high surrounding hill
'ps, yet we see that the proud Bird of
merica alone stands upon its pinnacle,
I'd on the wings OF the eternal princi-
les OF Democracy, he threatens to rise
ito the upper regions of greatness be-
md the reasonable aspirations of any
ng cursed people OF earth.
l said we need fear no foreign dan
'rs. But there may exist dangers
thin our own borders more terrible
the prosperity and happiness of the
'ople than the hostile tramp of the
gions of England, or the cleaning
lsh OF Russian swords. And yearly
we revert to the gallantry of our
lcestors against foreign tyranny, we
ould renew our hostility to domestic
preston. They resisted the tyranny
unjust taxation from abroad, let us
ntinue to resist it at home. Taxation
ls been the most formidable instru-
ent OF despotism. By it were the :
lrteen colonies oppressed. By it .
'ain has almost crushed the life-blood
It OF Cuba. Taxation comes from h