The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-07-07
THE CELEBRATION.
KENOSHA PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE
BIRTHDAY OF INDEPENDENCE.
GREAT CROWDS IN THE CITY.
The Great Parade-Oration by James
Cavanagh and the Declaration of IN
dependence by G. R. Mcdowell
Great Bicycle Pageant.

The glorious Fourth is over and
never in It's history did Kenosha do
greater honor to the glorious day we
celebrate. From earliest morning
until far into the night patriotic
Americans thronged the streets of the
city and gave vent to their hidden
patriotism by loud huzzas and an in
creasing firing of cannons, firecrackers
and pistols, and even the old time
worn and rusty musket which had not
seen service since the days of Gettys-
burg and Antietam, was brought out
again to thunder forth praises of the
birthday of liberty. The glorious news
from Santiago arrived just in time to
set the patriotic hearts astir and the
people were not slow about showing
their feelings over the great event.
Old Glory waved from nearly every
house top and throughout the city the
residences were decorated with flags
and bunting, intermingled with which
we're pictures of the heroes who have
recently added their names to the long
list of Americas great warriors.
Long before the hour for the great
parade Main street was lined with Wis
itors awaiting the arrival of the great
pageant representing Kenosha and its
wonderful industrial interests. The
parade moved promptly at $3.50 and it
was a truly great display. Headed by
platoon of police officers and the
Windsor Band it was greeted with
cheers of applause all along the line OF
march. After the band came nearly
500 men on foot representing the differ
eut secret and beneficial societies OF
the city. All carried flags and wore
the emblems of their order. Following
these came the Imperial Band and the
city officials in prettily decorated car
riages; after which came the allegorical
floats representing the early history of
Wisconsin and Keuosha and the pres
ent war. These floats were truly
dreams of beauty and were received
with storms of applause all along the
line of march. At the close of the par
ade came the floats representing the
various industries of the city, making a
very charming effect. Nearly every
branch of industry was represented,
from the great manufacturing indus
tries to the peanut stands and cigar
factories. Following she industrial
floats was display of fire departments,
old and new, which was followed by a
large number of citizens on foot and in
carriages.
Arriving in the park a great crowd
of over a thousand persons gathered
around the grand stand when Rev.
Harry Thompson read prayer from
the beautiful Episcopal ritual. G.. R.
Nc Oowell then read the Declaration of
independence, after which the orator OF
the day, Hon. James Cavanagh, was
introduced and gave mastery Grafton
on the subject of the serious problems
for the solution of Americans of today.
Mr.. Cavanagh spoke of the right the
nation had to celebrate it's birthday
and the fitting time for the announce
ment of the great victory at Santiago.
Santiago was but repetition of Vicks-
burg and Gettysburg and why should
any nation hesitate to celebrate such a
glorious victory. The speaker, among
the serious problems, picked out the
subjects of strikes, money, political
corruption, and lastly the questions
arising from the present war with
Spain. He spoke of Washington's
farewell address as the guiding star of
the future destinies of the American
republic. This was a policy of nation
al isolation. But times are now
changed and the nation standing on
the threshold of colonial aggrandiZe-
ment can no longer accept the words of
| Washington. We must either change
our plans and enter fledged into com
petition with the nations of the world,
or we must allow other nations to seize
the ground gained by American sol
diers and sailors or allow it to go back
to the tyrannical government of Spain.
The former is the only course. 1t is
ours to accept this opening. We must
take the spoils of war and the citizens
| of these countries must be civilized and
christianized, and if France or Ger
many or Russia or Austria desires a
slice from them let them take it at the
point of the bayonet. American arms,
hitherto untried, haYe felt their own
strength, and from henceforth she
cringes before no armies or nayies, she
is the peer of the world.
In closing the speaker paid beauti-
full tribute of love and esteem to the
brave boys of the United States who
went forth to fight for Cuban liberty.
He compared the utter inability of all
Europe to cope with the Armenian