Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-05
OLD.FASHIONED OBSERV ANCE
Fourth of July Exercises Like Our Fathers
Used to Have.
ALL THE FEATURES or GOOD OLD TIMES
Giant Parade Followed by the Dee
lnrntion of independence aud n
Patriotic Speech by nm
Orator nngcly Enjoyed.

speeches, music, the Declaration Of hide
pendence and all the features that have
come to be recognized as part of the occa-
sion, at the exposition grounds. All the
available settees on the grounds were gath
cred on the broad plaza and when the pa
rade had passed the west side Of the plaza
the crowd surged toward the pavilion and
the seats were quickly filled, while thou
sands of people crowded about the outside.
The parade was reviewed by President Wat
ties, Vice President Saunders and all the
executive committee of the exposition, Cen
eral c. +. Henderson, General J. c. Gown,
]. c. Wharton and II. IL. Baldrige.
The signal for the starting of parade was
given from the pavilion on the Bluff tract
by the sending up of daylight fireworks.
The parade passed Immediately in front OF
the pavilion and never was such a cosmo-
polttan Conglomeration seen in any Ameri-
can celebration If a Fourth of July. As the
representatives of the various nationalities
passed the reviewing stand they stopped
and executed characteristic %salutes, con-
sisting mainly of glad shouts and wild
gesticulations. The air resounded with the
combination of national music played on
strange instruments and the sound of glad
acclaim in many tongues. The parade oc-
cupied nearly three quarters of an hour in
phSSluS III pdNlliIuh anu do " ~ d9i
float had passed the people crowded up to
the front of the pavilion and the whole
plaza was black with people.
TIL exercises began with a medley of ma
tional airs by the Fourth Regiment band
of Sioux City, ending with the Star Span
gled Banner at the first notes of which
the great audience broke into cheers. Those
who were sitting stood during the stirring
song, all with uncovered heads.
Cheer News of Victory.
AS soon as the music ceased President
Wattles announced that bulletins showing
the progress of events at Santiago would be
read during the exercises and he introduced
General C. f. Henderson to read a bulletin
just received. The crowd shouted with eX-
element when General Henderson an
nounced that the victory of Vicksburg on
that historic Fourth in the SOS was about
to be repeated and then he read the an
nouncement that Shafter had given the
Spanish in Santiago until Tuesday noon to
surrender.
Rev. T. J. Mackay delivered the invoca-
ton, dwelling especially on the stirring
events in Cuba and asking divine protection
for those engaged in deadly conflict for the
cause of human liberty.
The exposition chorus sung America
Will accompaniment ny tut Ddnu, ne duul-
ence standing and joining in singing the
last verse, the prayer in song rising in a
mighty wave to the clear, blue vault of
heaven.
The Declaration. of Independence was
read in stentorian tones by Hon. J.. C.
Wharton, his voice reaching to the outer
limits of the great crowd. The assemble |
multitude was in a patriotic mood and the
main points in the document were applauded,
the close of the reading being followed by
continued cheers and applause.
Hon. James NJ. Beck Speaks
The exposition chorus sang THE Red
White and Blue and then the orato" OF
the day was announced, Hon. James Nj. Beck,
United States attorney for Pennsylvania. He
was greeted with applause. and lis WORDS
of greeting from Philadelphia to Omaha wero
enthusiastically received. He spoke as lol
lows:
My Fellow Countrymen: From the city
of the Declaration of Independence, where
Henry spoke, jefferson wrote, Franklin
counseled, Adams debated. Morris admins
tered and Washington .unsheathed his
sword, within whose walls is Germantown
and near to whose gates are Brandywine
and Valley Forge, | bring to you a fraternaI
greeting. Philadelphia felicitates Omaha
Pennsylvania salutse Nebraska and
its sisters of the great west. We con
graduate you on this imposing pageant OF
art and industry, representing the resources
of a section over which, when the great
declaration was given to the world, the
banner of Spain fioated in triumph. Its
marvellous. growth under free institutions Ii
a vindication beyond the power of mere
words of those sublime truths to which oul
fathers gave undying expression 1872 years
We can reverently thank the Ruler of Ma,
Itions, by whose ordinance we came into
being and to. serve whose wise purpose We
continue to exist. that upon no preceding
anniversary has our country exercised 81
wide an influence among the nations OF
the earth or uued.--it for any loftier oil
nobler purpose. The republic is in arms
today, not because 1t loves peace less, bu'
because it loves Justice more. Never die
nation make war with less selfish purpose
The American people, until patience haC
ceased to be a virtue, sympathized witt
their noble president in the wish that this
cup of bitterness might be spared our lips
No lust of military glory or territorial ag.
grandizement inspired our action. We haC
been slow to believe the oft-repeated storie!
of medieval barbarities in Cuba and oul
) traditional policy was opposed to interyen,
ton in the domestic affairs of another
power.
Truth il brought Home.
1t was not until a daughter of Nebraska
had died in Cuban waters and her hus
band, Its honored senator. had, in a speed
I of great eloquencc and yet greater pathos
+ given us the true and sensible ayouch o
his own eyes that our pacific purpose!
q gave place to the passionate Indignation o
:reemen and that the spirit of the Cru
saders swept through our veins and thu
cry, God wills it was heard on ever!
hand. We then took a high resolve in thu
spirit of our fathers that our blood SHOULD
be as dust and our treasure as water t.
stop this barbarity and remove forever thi
foul cancer of Spanish oppression. w
have thus disproyed the libel against Amer
Z lean character that our aims are purely ma
= terial and that our uncqualed growth il
1 wealth has chOked the finer sensibilities o
the soul.
Our rejoicing, however, may well be tenn
2 pered today by the appreciation of the tire
mendOus responsibilities which by no pur
e poes Of ours are suddenly devolved upol
us, Bewey's genius and valor-not un
o worthy of a land which gave Paul Jones
Greble, cambridge, Decatur, Porter AM
FaTragut 10 histOry-have blaZcd the patl
a to victory and have confronted the Ameri
+ can people with a responsibility more mo
mentous and pregnant with future conse
quenees than has ever weighed upon on
4, nation on any natal anniversary since tn
civil war. That involved our existence
this may define our position and relation
z to the rest of the world. TO give bacI
the ronuugrad Territory tn Snaif NAV IA