The record-union., 1898-07-05
OPENING ADDRESS.
Remarks of Justice T. B. McEar-
land, President Of the Day.

Justice Mcfarland then spoke as fol-
lows:
Fellow Citizens: We are assembled to
commemorate our countrys birthday;
the love of country glows in the hearts OF
all the men, women, and children or sac
ramento.
The last time 1 had the honor to act
Officially on an occasion like this was
when we had our great Centennial cele-
bration of the Fourth of July in this city
in 1876. 1t was the greatest celebration
we ever had here-until this one which
eclipses all. 1 congratulate you, as Sac
ramentans, on the growth of the city
since then in material prosperity ana IN
beauty And 1 congratulate you still
more, as Americans, on the growth since
then of our great common country.
Nothing has since occurred to bring III
question in any way the justification of
the sentiments Of patriotism then ex-
pressed, or to throw any doubt upon the
prophecies then made of our country $
future career Her free institutions have
been preserved in all their former purity
and vigor. Not a star in her banner has
been dimmed, while new ones have given
additional luster to the constellation. Her
people are to-day bound together in a
national union which, Whatever dangers
it may have gone through in the past, is
at last, as far as human foresight can
know, indissoluble ''now and forever"
And as a certain nation by disregard
ing our oft repeated and just protests
against the long continued prosecution,
before our eyes and within our hearing, of
! meTcIlpSS
next door neighbor, has forced us to put
battle ships on the ocean and battalions
on foreign soil, the military strength Of
our country and her determination to use
it. has astounded the great powers of
Europe, and has caused her ancient enc
mics to seek her friendship.
of mere shop-keepers and money-getters;
that high, and generous, and chivalrc
sentiments had ceased to be among our
incentives to action; and that courage
nObleSt virtue them
shrunk out of our veins. But as soon as
the call to arms had thrilled through the
hearts of our countrymen, volunteers to
follow and defend the flag, wherever it
so thickly as to embarrass the Govern
ment by their numbers. Already our sea-
men and soldiers have done deeds of valor
equal to those at Thermopylae or Trafal-
gar. The war was scarcely under full
headway before Dewey and Hobson added
to the roll of eternal fame two more of
the immortal names that were not born
to die."
Nor must we forget the youthful and
heroic Bagley-that early martyr to the
brave discharge of a soldiers duty. And
the dying, declaration of Capron, Don't
to be perpetuated side by side with the
last words of Nelson, and of our own inn
of such heroes ought to be pictured in
undying colors in the Federal capitol,
and .sculptured in monumental marble
on all the public grounds of the nation.
These things give glory to our name, and
will make it blaze on the pages of his
tory they will give more volume and
richer tones to the voices with which mil
lions yet unborn will exclaim hereafter
Thank God that we, too. are American
citizens"
Our flag now floats by force of arms,
on that historic gem of the West Indies
from which, centuries ago. Cortes sailed
TO the conquest of Mexico 1t also floats
over those distant tropical seas of the
Orient where the warm waters Of the Pa
cific wash the shores of the Philippines,
and where in the Bay of Manila, rides
a victorious American fleet manned by
heroes equal to those who fought with
Perry and Decatur; and, unless taken
down by the hands of it's friends, there
it will float forever Hereafter the luster
of our arms and the significance of our
flag will be known, and will protect our
citizens and their property. not only in
the capitals of Europe. but among the
most seclusive nations of Central Asia
at the heart of the Dark Continent and
to the farthermost isles of the most un-
frequented seas.
This is day when all our citizens
whatever be their parties or creed, should
stand on the same level. and unite in a