Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-08
Geo. A. Wilson'S Fourth of
RI July Address.

, this O,,Ision IL being the one hundred
| and twenty-second anniversary OF Amer.
lean independence, when I.iherty's bell
pcaled .ut the independence Of the then
! weak colonies but now the most power
tnl ant grandest nation on Gods green
earth, The celebration OF which swels
with p,ide every true American heart.
On hat cvcntiul morning Of October
IL, 1i92, little did Columbus comprc-
bend that he had discovered country
that was so soon destined to compete
with the nations of the old world,
1t was like unto dream to those adj
ventures when they found they had not
arrived AZ the East Indies
On their return, there was the greatest
commutiOn ever witnessed All OF the
nation. were eager 10 get possession
colonie. were sent to America, princi-
pally the first being founded during the
reign OF the Virgin Queen Elizabeth. and
named IN her honor as Virginia
OF the real hardships our torciathers
experienced, but little do we know their
struggles with the red men, and the tor
ture and suffering they withsiood Ian
guagc cannot describe,
The tyranny of England was of the
most Illuminating character. The stamp
act, and the embargo put upon tea, and
tavntion without representation, were
the principal causes OF the Revolution,
the result OF which was the formation
of this grand republic. And, had our
Edison pt to-day been living at that
time, With his inventive genius in the use
of cleo tris,y, he would have converted
Boston ,,arbor into vcrtiahle teapot,
brewing the 342 chests Of tea that were
emptie, therein on the | 9th oi December,
l774.
On the lth day ii July. l71G the
United states OF America, as free and
mdrpeudgnt nation WAS born. i'he war
~ the REVOLUTION WAS "a might y struggle
Tor existence. We gained the victory
and touh orf proud posili"n AMONG he
nation. ~ tho earth.
For one hundred and twentV.two
years wv have riscn III power and great
ness uncquacd hl any other nation in
the world Statesmen Of no less saeas-
ity than kussell MaCauiay, Hrnngham
and still later. that astute philosopher
MIR. Carlyle, heralded with blind aud
scltconccited assumption the downfall
OF our nation. That our grand Amcri-
can republic was but transicai expert
ment, mere political wil!-o-thc- wisp
and an arria! lilicc, which Il few rough
storms would shatter and dissipate;
that it Nould indeed prove ike Jonah 6
gourd, " hich grew mp IN nigh, and
persisted in day twhy didn they say
lonahs whale,) but, through the vauni
ings oil evil prophesy, the assaults OF
enyey and ridiculc, the TRADES IT hos
tile press. and the machination of kings
aud cabinets that have ever AND anon
swept across the Atlantic and sought to
weaken the stability and huInigiatc the
uane al nur glorious republic.
In 1861, the great Civil war took
place, and our glorious republic was
shaken Ia her very foundation, Chat
conflict vas the most terrible and Wa. kcd
war thai was ever recorded in history.
The shock was terrible. The mnnarch
ical countries of Europe looked on and
they had predicted that the experiment
OF free government had at length proven
an ignuminious failure, BIT the Union
came through the crisis free govern
ment SIN, and to-day she stands at the
head OF the nations, still waiting the
old British tune OF Yankee Doodle on the
gentle breeze.
We to-day challenge the tribunals OF
the word IN the majesty oil those eternal
principles embodied in our Declaration
of Independence; in the strength of our
dignity as commanding arhitrr of
own affairs and the destiny OF the Yves
tern Hemisphere az well We glory in
The prnwess OF our fleets and armies, in
the incalculable wealth of our natural
relonrccs our vast enterprises, our vast
indusl ries, and still growing in the as
cendancy OF all those social educational
and political forces which shall carry us
onward with ever-ncreasing speed,
while empires drop and manurchies sink
to rest,
Our great men OF heroisni, statesman
ship, oratory, genius, adventure and
philanirophy are held dear To every true
American heart.
Those whose aims and efforts have
been crowned with such e'ycr-cherishcd
successes and achievements from the 4th
day of July, 1916, when Lihcrtys bell
poaled forth from independence Hall a
call for freedom, and from thence to the
fall OF Richmond Manila. and Santiago
Where rs there MOI an American citizen