The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
A RELATED ECHO.

It is little late to talk about Fourth of
July celebrations of 1898, but here is an ex-
ceptional case Returns from the celebra-
ton in Auckland, New Zealand, have just
got in. Intelligent readers of the Journal
do not need to be told that New Zealand is
a. British colony, and that it lies very much
on the other side of the world and very
far from anywhere. 1t is about as far from
our prospective new possessions in the
Philippine islands as they are from Hawaii,
and as far south of the equator as Indiana
is north of it. yet Auckland, its principal
city, celebrated the Fourth of July. The
celebration was notable both because it was
the first recognition of our national holiday
in that quarter of the globe, and because of
it's frank exhibition of English-American
sympathy auckland is a city of nearly
$1,000 population and on the last Fourth of
July its people assembled in mass meeting
for the purpose of presenting an address to
the United Stated consul The meeting
was held in the opera house. which was
decorated with the British and American
flags. A band alternated 1.-The Star-span-
gled Banner" and Dixie" with God Save
the Queer and Rule Britannia" The
mayor o: t'~ city escorted the consul upon
the platfori@ and an ex-mayor made
rafting" good Fourth of July speech at
the conclusion of which he read the fol-
lowing:3 = ~ 1aU0T- tyc
To Frank Dillingham;, Esq, Consul in New
Zealand for the United States of
America:
sir-By direction. and in the name of. the
citizens of Auckland, in public meeting as
sembled, we take this opportunity of ex-
pressing to you, and through you to the
government and people of the United
States our hearty congra tulation on the
anniversary of the foundation of your great
republic, and the warmth of sympathy and
sense of kinship which we. as loyal British
United States The moment that witnessed
the birth of your great nation was one
characterized by profound emotions, by
heroic conduct, and by a broad statesman
ship. which it has been the fortune of
mankind rarely to witness. Many of the
emotions and sentiments of that time were
of a character so strained and so painful
that time alone could soften them and as
suage their keen severity, but now, hap
PLY, after century or uneXampied
progress in all things that make civilization
a blessing to mankind, what in them was of
anger and antagonism has passed away,
and there is left for the admiration and i'm
people. governed by the great principles
then laid down, and characterized by an
unfalter1ng love or freedom, In the spirit
of which your nation had its birth, and
which was the precious heritage your pill
grim fathers carried with them from their
native land The world has yet to witness
the further progress and development OF
your civilizing power and influence, and 1t
is our earnest hope that your people, and
ours, from which they sprang. may ever
side by side: that all men of whatever kim
dred or race they be may know that alike
under the stars and stripes and under the
union jack is found the home of personal
the security of life and property; and that
though they be two nations. yet they are
one people. with common language, a
common literature common law, and
common religious development. and that
they are governed and actuated by one
idence of God they are called upon to I'M
dertake national responsibilities, those
blessings of their civilization shall consti-
tute the privilege of all over whom their
glorious flag shall wave.
The local account says the reading of the
address was frequently and loudly ap-
plauded. Its sentiments certainly ought to
excite friendly responsive feelings among
Americans. It's significance lies in the fact
that it is a voluntary expression from loyal
British subjects permanently settled in a
quarter of the globe which we are just about
to enter and the future destiny of which de-
ponds largely on the relations which shall
exist between the two great English speak
ing nations. Regarded in that light, this
belated Fourth of July echo has special
interest