Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-13
A SPLENDID GRAFTON.
Remarks of Colonel R. E. Twitchell at the
Las Vegas Celebration on the 4th
of July, 1893,

VI uuiJy AoOos
The Grafton delivered at Las Vegas on
the Fourth of July by Colonel Twitchell
has caused considerable comment
throughout the territory. His reputa-
ton as an orator is not confined to the
limits of New Mexico and he is beyond
doubt one of our leading eytempora-
neous speaker. A synopsis of the ora
tion was published in the Optic and that
portion of it dealing with the subject
of patriotism among Il people we give
below as Il fair idea of the general char
acter of the address which consumed
we an hour and a half in the delivery:
And ourselves. fellow citizens. What
special cause have we for congratula-
ton? What has the turn in the wheel
of fortune done for New Mexico? What
has public opinion announced as our
due? What acts of valor can we display
to the world in patriotic fervor? What
deed of valiant courage of q son of Il
former Spanish province provokes the
| applause of the world? What is it that
makes the blood flow faster and the
heart beat quicker in every true Ameri-
| can breast in New Mexico? Do we hear
his name on the lips of every citizen
within the reach of my voice? AS the
shades of evening fall do old men and
women, with proud and patriotic tears,
tell the story of New MeXico's battalion,
now fighting on a foreign shore, to
wondering children as yet too young to
know its purport? Do they know the
story of those true patriots who left us
two short months ago, to battle for hui
manity, for freedom and civilization?
I'm the stiffness of the night is a
prayer offered up from every humble
heart in New Mexico for the safety of
those valiant heroes? Is there an echo
in the breast of every citizen of New
Mexico of that sentiment which makes
of them examples of patriotism for all
of us? Do we find ON every side that
love for the stars and stripes which
abides in the hearts of those true patriots
who faced the death dealing Spanish
bullets at La Quasina and Santiago?
They are true. loyal and patriotic son
of the American Republic whose names
are already inscribed upon the national
roll of honor. BY the acts of such men
is made a reputation not only for them
selves but for us here at home. and
it is a reputation of which we should be
worthy as well as proud. Is there a lack
of appreciation Of that liberty guaran-
teed by the banner which floats above
us today? Do we falter when the coun-
try calls for that support which is her
due? God grant that nowhere in Amer
ica's vast domain may be found the ex-
empliication of those most despicable
characters known to history-Judas Is
CARROT and Benedict Arnold! God grant
that it may not be given to us to dis
cover the presence of that embodiment
of evil, that belly-crawling reptile, the
traitor to his country in thought or
deed! A visitation to the righteous
wrath of an outraged people, more ter
rible than the frown of tyrants, dealt
out to the hidden enemies of America,
would find a joyous welcome in the
hearts of men whose faith. whose creed,
whose very family is surrounded with
that thought-may my country ever be
right, but right or wrong, my country.
An American citizen has rights to per
form. The consequences belong to God
Almighty.
1.-The first and greatest duty of an
American citizen is loyalty to his coun-