The Meeker herald., 1897-07-03
The Nations Natal Day.

Out of the far past, from days whea
our Teutonic forefathers worshiped 10
the dim forests aud offered sacrifices "a
the god of battles, came tho impuisse
which created Cromwell and Washing
ton, the French revolution and The
Fourth Of July. The yearning for lib
erty, growing throughout all the ages.
moistened by the crimson dew Of many
hard-fought field, became hardy md
strong on those lands where it was
planted by unsung heroes. 1t flowered
on this continent, and to US, the heirS
of all the ages, 1t has yielded its fruit.
Standing upon the apex of history and
experience, We look bsek oyer tha sr
trodden BY Freedom, and hold her all
the dearer for the brambles that have
rent her garments, the flints that have
cut her feet, the anguish that has bowed
her to the dust through many dark
and dismal period.
The Fourth of July is an anniversary
the like of which is celebrated nowhere
else in the world, for it commentaries
death as well as life; it is a monument
of old epochs, as well as a milestone
along the way to the highest form Of
liberty under law; 1t is a dream become
a reality, a vision made substance.
Three hundred years is space of
time scarcely sufficient for the building
of European cathedral, or the ripen-
ing Of European dynasty. yet in three
centuries this continent has attained q
marvellous destiny, and our nation,
planted in the virgin wilderness, has be-
come the most powerful upon the earth,
and grand heights rise before it in the
glad perspective Of the future. Truly,
like Isreal of old, We can say with
humility and reverence that we are
1.-THE chosen of God"
In the throes Of that struggle which
gave to our country its independence Of
kingly rule, in that war for the rights
Of the sailor which has no parallel in
the story of the worlds wars, in that
last Titanic contest where brother.
fronted brother in deadly conflict. the
increasing Significance OF the Fourth Of
jury was appreciareu uy every succeed
ing generation. To-day we are privi-
legged to witness revival Of the spirit
of patriotism; and love of country and
the maintenance of its dignity are the
absorbing topics of thought and conver-
sation. At this time, above all others,
the solemn conviction is borne in every
loyal heart that this continent is destined
for freedom, and that it is the people of
the United States who shall hold liberty
in trust for those weak peoples of the
western world who are striving to
attain it.
On the Fourth Of July "a years ago
two of the worlds great battles were
fought, and the reeking altars Of pa
troitism at Gettysburg and Vicksburg
sent up their smoke to the pitying
heavens. To-day those men who
marched with Meade and Grant and
they who fought with Lee and Pember-
ton sit side by side in the sunlight of
peace. loving their country with pure
patriotism and jealous of her honor.
The crash of cannon and the rattle of
mimic musketry are fitting accompani-
ment for this day, for the republic was
born in storm and stress. The flare OF
guns was its natal torch, and its cradle
was rocked to the roar Of artillery. That
our children may never forget that this
was so, and that they may prize the
calm of peace we initiate, on this day,
the tumult of war. On this day, too,
we fling forth the flag. and pointing to
its stars we tell to our sons and daugh-
ters the stories of how the emblems Of
the states were held In the field of blue
that typifies a common country. We
point to the stripes, and relate to them
the tale of how those darker stripes Of
scourging of a bonded people were
blotted out by these, the white and
crimson emblems Of our liberty, the red
sanctifed by the blood Of heroes, the
white made purer by the tears Of wid-
ows. Then, too, we speak Of our battles
and our achievements, and exhort them
to cherish the banner upon which God
has set the seal Of His approval, and
which has become the ark OF our
covenant.
With the sound Of the bells that from
every valley and hilltop proclaim to the
peoples Of the earth the story Of our
liberty there is mingled the thanksgiy-
ing of the nation. Our prairies are not
wider than our love Of country, our
mountains are not firmer than our 10y
atty, and with courage and hope we
front new eras, confident that this great
people will furnish the bulwark against
peril from without and within.-Lou v.