Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-07-06
ORATIONs DELIVERED.
Outlines Presented Of the Addresses
Given By the Orators of the Day.


The celebration of the Gloriou,
Fourth, in Las Vegas, was distinguished
no less by the able, eloquent and pa
triotic addresses delivered than by tn,
uncontrolled enthusiasm of the people
Judge Jno. r. Nellie has long beer
recognized as without superior in
New Mexico as a powerful and pleasing
speaker. Elegant in manner, courteous
in demeanor, fluent in dictfen, logical in
arrangement, forceful in the massing
and presentation of his facts and ar
guments. he comes always to- his sub
ject with thorough mastery oft and
leaves his auditors edited and delighted.
His adress on the Fourth was no ex-
ception to his general methods, while
lt but added to the reputation which
the speaker leng since secured. Judge
McFle never writes his discourses, and
a stenographer was not TO be procured
Tor the occasion. Hence, THE OPTIC
can present to it's readers only meaQer
and altogether unsatisfactory skeleton
OF the grafton, the thoughts that
breathe and the words that burn. with
which the skeleton was clothed. being
beyond our power of reproduction.
JUDGE McFIE SAID:
In any celebration of the birthday OF
this Republic, Americans should re-
view the past, understand the present
and intelllgently picture the future.
lie then briefly sketched the events
leading up to the Declaration of Inue-
pendence, beginning with taxation
without representation, as proposed to
Walpole in 1899 and consummated in
The stamp act passed in 1865. This was
lollowed everywhere by indignation on |
The part of the colonists. In Boston
ana Philadelphia muffled bells rang out
funeral psals. In New York the law
was carried through the streets sur
mounted by 9 death's-head, inscribed.
The folly Of England and the ruin of |
: merica.' At Portsmouth process
non carried through the streets coffin
marked Liberty" AT the grave ora
ions were delivered and cannons fired
While Liberty was consigned to the
The night when the law was passed. Il
franklin wrote to Thompson, "rhe sun
I liberty has set; Americans must now
ght the lamps of industry and econ
N.Y." Thompson replied, "Be assured I,
70 shall light torches of quite another
ort." So great was the indignation !
nat the law was repealed in February ,
100; but during the very next year Ii
mother law was passed taxing glass. ,
aper, paints and tea; though this law
as speedily suspended as to all the :
ems but the last. The people, howl i
yer, were as stubborn as the lawmak- (
s, and refused to purchase any i'm
orted tea. About 100000 pounds h
the article accumulated in the hands y
the East India company. The GOV =
nment reduced the tax, but still the a
sople would not buy. At Boston 342 :
rests were thrown into the bay. The a,
'vernment sought to punish the peo. q
Q of that city by quartering Z
oops upon them. This led to the 81
titles OF Lexington and Bunker Hill, ii
ne congress of Massachusetts, being in +,
sslon drew up strong protest to h,
lgland concluding, "Appealing to y, ~
aven for the justice Of our cause, we .,
termine to die or be free.r Patrick -
enry said: I'VE must fight. An ap- ~
al to arms and the God of Hosts, is =
that Is left us. / repeat it, Sir, we h,
lst fight' George Washington said, y, =,
'othing short of independence can nj ri
ssibly do" ~ ~
The Continental Congress met in "
liladelphia, May 10, 1776. On jane de
!, Richard Henry Lee introduced the " "
lowing resolution: sThat the y,
lited Colonies are and ought to be 81 81
% and independent states; and that tp tri
pr political connection with Great =
titan is and ought to be cissolved."l