Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-07-12
Official Paper of County.
OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900

OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900
Grafton by Hon. j. H. Mccon-
logue at cresco, July 18th
Ladies and Gentlemen: every American
should, on this his countrys natal day, stand in
solemn contemplation at the stupendous grand
yer of her accomplishments, as well as her bril-
liant present and inspiring future.
Other nations and other people, may, on
national festivals tell in eloquent tones of the
greatness of their country. They may point to
past of sparkling beauty. The Bard of other
lands may sing in songs as sweet as the heart
could wish, of soldiers true as steel, and brave
as Descartes and Turenne, and here and there
pick out some good and noble character to feed
his imagination, but the American with pious
and modest demeanor can tell of deeds in
battle, where true heroes fell, not for indiyidu-
al man, but for humanity. He can point to
freedom in its respondent realization. and show
how his cOuntrymen made these words of the
poet true:
when Freedom from her mountain heights
49, Unfurled her standard to the air,
Sne tore the azure robe of night,
And set the stars of glory there"
What happiness should fill our hearts today
as we stop and think that we have now reached
the 1s2 milestone on the highway of nations
and since the day 1t was first declared to suffer-
ing mankind, THAT all men are created equal
endowed with inaenable rights" not Il backs
ward step has been taken by our Government.
What panorama of great events passes
through our minds as we +eaay contemplate the
achievements of our beloved country. What
grand realizations we now behold in this. the
second Onr
nation. Are we not right in claiming our land
the best, and our nation the brightest star In
IN the constellation of nations? Is.sit not our
right and privilege to be proud of our beloved
country and proud beyond expression of her in
stitutlonSa,<fris our right to be proud of the
.w9asasfful growth made by our people since the
day Washington received the sword from the
Cornwall at Yanktown.
True to our GROWING virtue, -patriotism-we
use THIS day in communicating the memory and
deeds OF the brave men, who 1872 years ago,
pledged their lives. their fortunes and their
sacred honor that this land might, by kind Pro-
violence permitting become a nation of free
men. There Is satisfaction in the thought, that
Today throughout this broad land, where sew
enty million OF people live in contented unity
there has been no dimunition In the love they
nave for the memoryof the brave men VINO with
unseliish devotion to hunanity's Cause, made
this day of rejoicing possible
In every town and city; in every hamlet and
neighborhood circle throughout the land there
beats at this hour warm hearts in unison with
The spirit of our Governments; beneath the
snow capped mountains of the west; in the nli-
merous vine clad and smiling valleys: along At
lantic's rugged coast; where the peaceful Paci-
nc eternally kisses the golden shore; north and
south. east and west; the rich. the poor, the
young the old. the toiler at the pillow, the artisan
the merchant, the professional! man, the labor
er, one and all. have turned from their daily
cares and from business turmoil, forgetting po-
ntlcal and religious differences joined in one
mass OF common humanity. pay deserved re-
spect to the memory of the founders of the Re-
pubic, and to commemorate the dellserance of
our forefathers and their children from tyran-
ny and oppression, which was the greatest
event In human History
Yes indeed, consoling is the fact. that on this
day all differences religious and political
ish from our minds, and with patriotism burn
ing in our hearts, we gather under the old flag
TO uphold and perpet,late the political blessings
which have been handed down to lis by our
forefathers, and for which so many noble char
acters fought and bled to obtain, and likewise
maintain
AS stand before You today, my beloved coun-
trymen and countrywomen. the past with all ac-
complshments. with all its failures, passes be-
lore my mind. and in that mental panorama,
penold evidence that warrants the conclusion,
tnat an all wise Providence has decreed, that
lhls people and this nation shall ever be in the
van of freedoms cause.
with this thought and in this hour of reioic-
ing, would still ask, that the thoughtful patri
OF view the surrounding present with compla-
cency, and discern if possible whether the tend
OF events will ultimately augment the glory of
our country, and for him to see if he can what
the future has in store for our country and our
people. There are dangers ahead; there are
whirlpools; there are breakers; there are dan
gerous rocks beneath the waters surface of the
high sea on which we are now sailing. and
which every one of us must guard against with
Enc care OF an experienced mariner. No people
on Gods great footstool has more to rejoice
over than we. None have higher aspirations to
be realized. none have greater responsibilities
and more at stake than we,
Let us now for few moment review the past
and see what has been done for our country by
those who have shaped her destiny. Go back
with me to the real beginning of our history.
For ages and ages an Allwise Providence held
thls continent in reserve for his own good pur-
pose. Like the coming of the "Son of Man, the
inspired belief of Columbus, that westward lay
an dheXplored country, was fully realized by
Inc generations that followed the great discoy-
cry. Here let me pause a moment to observe
that as we behold the humble sailor Columbus.
treated by the noble king and queen, Ferdinand
anu isaDele, with respect and they willingly
furnishing MN the necessary succor to make.
MS perllouS attempt at finding new world and