Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-07-06

This was carried by vote of seyel
states to six, after a fierce debats
rearing the narrow margin by whicl
tnis resolution was adopted, on Jun
iith committee composed of Thos
Jefferson, BeBj Franklin, John Adams
Roger Sherman and RobI. r.. Living
ston was appointed to draft a decIara.
ton. This committee reported the i'm
mortal document, written by Thos
Jefferson, On June 2Sth. On the 2uc
Oh July hot debate began which last
ed vi p. N, of the Fourth. Th:
Watchmaa was waiting in the belfry. tc
ring the glad tidings. But the hours
went on. The thousands in the street
grew weary Of waiting The murmur
increased to d cry-"They will never
pass itl' But at last the door swung
open, the messenger dashed out CRYING
King the bell, watchman, ring The
beillD and the changing clapper announ.
ced nations birth.
John Adams said: II am apt to be-
lieve that it will be celebrated by sue
ceedlng generations as the great ami
yersary festival. 1t ought to be com
memorated as the day of deliverance by
solemn acts of devotion to Almighty
GOD. 1t ought to be solemnized with
pomp and parade, with shows. games.
sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illumi-
nations from one end of this continent
TO the other from this time forth for
over more"
l am glad to know that Las Vegas is
obeying Adams Injunction.
independence having been secured.
we were compelled to defend and mains
talu 1t. Now let us consider what it
mas cost us to do SO. The baptism of
blood and treasure, of suffering and
hardship, through which passed the sol.
dlers of the revolutionary war, during
the seven years of Its contiuuance
cannot be weighed In figures or ex-
pressed III dollars and cents. The es-
IIlmated ! cost was $168000OO0, while
t,49i men were killed and wounded
IL obtained for us the thirteen original
states, having S20,090 square miles of
'eTritory. The Mexican war cost thous-
snds of lives and $4,000, 900 of treas
Ire, and by it we secured $4,000 SQUARE
niles OF territory. BY treaties we OBJ
AIMED Louisiana, $4,000 square miles
or Sl5, 100000; Florida, 10000 square
niles, S3,O00,000; Gadsden purchase.
. 0O0 square miles, S10000,OO0; Oregon.
0o,OOO square miles; Alaska, $4,000
quare miles, $7,20000O. By union we
ecured Texas, with $4,000 square miles
I territory. Add the cost of the war
I 1872 10 at $10700O, 900 and 10. 229 in
illed and wounded.
ne civil war was family row but it
1velyed the dissolution of the Union
nd national sovereignty. More than
OoOOOO men were engaged in the
-ruggle. The Union loss, in killed
nd died of wounds and other causes
ere 36f,33 the Confederate losses, Of
le same kind, were 153,297. making a
total of 5l7,629 men who lost their
yes IN that cause, not including the
0unded and the MANNED. The cost of
10 conflict was $500, 100000. Gettys-
lrg was the greatest battle of the war.
e losses on both sides being about
1000, parallel to Waterloo.
Thus our declaration and our country
I'VE cost us nearly $4,000 lives, and
ore than S6,S76,0 100000 in money. And
nat have we to show fer all this blood =
ID treasure? I'll
The grandest nation on Gods green {
rth. Population, 100000 wealth, 4
o,OOO,0O0,0 600; domain In square miles,
$1,000; balance Of trade, $49l l,OOOOOO;
urches, 1853 with membership of
100000; school children, $4,000 GOO: III
st railroad and telegraph system; II
st banking system; best inventive
MUS; most intelligent and patriotic as
N and women; bravest and most in. M
ligent soldiers and sailors; best navy -
its size in the world.
And now we are at war with Spain, ch
'barous. tyranous Spainl She op- P,
,ssed Cuba and the rest of her cole
s. America could no longer resist
cry of the dying and down trodden.
light for humanity and the free.
n OF the race, while we avenge the
rginius, the Maine and our own noble
rs. (and here the speaker, whose own Tu
is at the front, paid a touching | Il
)ute to Trad Cochran, the first offer
Continued on Second Page.