The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-07-08

Owosso's celebrauon Great Success
Big Crowd of visitors-Everyone
Happy.


Happy.
The 4th of July, 1898, will be remem-
bered by the small boy when he becomes
an old man. 1t will stand out as a red
letter day to him. Indeed it was day
of rejoicing and congratulation for the
entire nation. The people of Shiawas-
see county poured into the city early
Monday morning by the thousands,
those from the country eager to get It'd
ings from the boys at Santiago. The
news of the famous victory of our fleet
was quickly passed from one to another
until everyone knew the glad tidings
and felt like going in the harder to Gel
citrate,
The day was an ideal Que, the city
had on its best attire, the business houses,
homes, and all public places being gaily
decorated. The several committees in
charge had arranged everything for the
comfort and convenience of the visitors,
the midway between Main and Ex-
change on Washington proving an at
traction for the younger generation,
while the exercises of the day at the
speakers stand, the water battle
and the races entertained the old
er ones. The program as advertised
was carried out with very few minor
exceptions, the omission of the ball
game, owing to some misunderstand-
ing, being the only real disappointment.
The exercises at the speakers stand
on north Washington street began at
100 with music by the city band and
patriotic songs by Duff's male chorus.
The president OF the day, Aid. JAS w.
Jordan, welcomed the visitors in the
following brief address:
Ladies and Fellow Citizens:-To me
has been allotted pleasing privilege
OF extending to you the welcome to our
city to enjoy the celebration of this, our
National Birthday. While this day
marks the birth of our nation among
the family of nations, it also marks the
birth of political epochs in the history
of man; it was then the birth of new,
and then strange political economy.
Prior to the 4th day of July, 1776, man
had worshipped at the foot of the throne
of his ruler, on whose head was suppos-
| ed to set the diadem of the Divine
Right of Kings, and when Thomas JEFF
ferson, the American political econo-
mist spoke the sentiment of the Amer
lean people, and announced that all
just authority of government was
derived from the governed, it was a
meteor shot in the political armament,
whose movements kingdoms and mon
archs have watched with every increas-
ing awe, until they themselves concede
the authority of the commonwealth, and
the American idea born on the 4th day
of July, 1776, is now dominating the
world. Under this idea of government
man has had an opportunity to devel-
ope, brought about by the right to free
| fly use his own faculties without fear or
prosecution, or rather persecution.
The effect of this may be seen in the
wonderful inventions and works of
genius that have been created since the
idea that the people were the rulers, the
| office-holders being in their places to
carry out their will and are their SER
wants.
1t is therefore an honor and rare
privilege for this CITY to welcome you
within its gates to celebrate this famous
day, day frought with good, not only
to the American people, but to all hui
mainly; a day that future history will
dedicate to the interests, to the well-be-
ing and to the happiness of man.
And as we celebrate today our Ma
tons brilliant history, let us even re-
member our gallant and noble boys in
blue who have marched bravely to the
front to grant an alike independence to
an oppressed people.