The record-union., 1899-07-05

form of government becomes destruc-
tive of these ends it is the right Of the
people to alter or abolish it,
Resting upon these broad principles
and backed ~ the mighty bulwark of
the CQnstitutlons our domestic tran
quillity is insured, justice IS establish
ed throughout the land, and individual
liberty is Saelred to every inhabitapt.
And Qaf cosina1 stood the test OF
time. Crave peril Hnnfronting it in its
primitive state have been safely passed
and, from. the experimental stage it has
developed into a practical reality.
Such, fellow citizens, is the priceless
heritage handed dQsxn.s to us by gen.
erations that are dead and gone. And
what can we give in return? The
| names of washington and Adams and
Jefferson and Hamilton and score of
others will survive, but the memory
of hundreds who fell on the field OF
battle lies buried.in their graves. Let
US meet, then, not as blinded parti-
sans, not as representatives of class
prejudices, but as brothers of one
common country, bearing one insignia.
of our devotion the flag of the Union.
| the Stars and Stripes, all on a COM
mon level, with no caste, no nobility,
no aristocracy and no distinction Of
citizenship on account of race, color or
| previous condition of servitude. with
our hearts stirred by kindred emo
| lions and our loyalty kindled by the
same fires to attest the veneration, and
to pay the national homage, of a free
and united people to the fathers Of
the Revolution and the land that
gave us BIRTH
In freedoms holy cause we have as
sembled, and as we look about us on
| this beautiful July morning, we be-
hold much for which we may feel duly
grateful. Grateful that we are permit
ted to enjoy the manifold blessings of
! liberty; grateful that our land is in a
state of comparative peace, and sur
rounded on every hand by enterprise.
prosperity, and plenty; grateful that
our people are united, contented and
happy, and grateful that the glory of
our American institutions encircles the
globe and is dimmed only in the shin
ing pathway of the stars.
Point if you can to a nation that has
made such rapid advancement in sci
ence, literature mechanical and cleo
trical inventions, and, in fact, in ev-
erything where American genius has
had an opportunity to display it's SUI
perior wisdom, talent and ability. Look
at our public school system, and tell
me if you will that it is equaled or ap
preached by that of any other coun-
try under the canopy of heaven.
| Take all our American institutions.
1 thayV WIT af
and you will find the predominant fea-
ture of supremacy is the achievement
of our transcendent American skill and
genius.
| All this has been brought about in a
| republican form of government where
every citizen is the equal of every
other citizen, and where every native
born male inhabitant may rise' from
the lowliest walks of life to the loftf-
| est. elevation in the gift of his couI,-
trymen.
What in all human contemplation is
more devoutly to be wished than the
thought of being free born, subject of
a free country, where possibilities know
no bounds and where the weight of
centuries rests lightly on our heads?
Who in this broad expanse of empire
would deign to be q serf? Look here
upon this picture and on this. Could
you on this fair mountain leave to
feed and fatten on this moore"
All hail to the men and women OF
old who sacrificed their lives upon the
altar of their country in unselfish de-
votion to the cause of liberty. May
the sun never rise to greet the day
r-ha hot. cI,o txa
the time never come when the inner
itors of their lavish bequest shall fail
to commemorate the anniversary OF
their stupendous task or celebrate with
thanksgiving and festivity that i'm
mortal, glorious day,
When Freedom from her mountain hight
Unfurled her standard to the air.
| that day, when the majestic goddess
at whose shrine we worship, ascended
the throne of reason, bearing in hand
the torch of light, to "spurn the AFRO
CANT distinctions of man and vindicate
the independent qualities of his race
Under the benign. influences thus
vouchsafed US our national career has
been ever onward and upward. Ad-
versity has been. upon US, but It has
| been brushed away again as if by the
hand of magic. Wars have been
fought, but always won. Peace has
been uniformly maintained. Our popu-
lation beginning with few thousand
has reached upward of seventy mill
ions. Blessed by benignant skies and
prolific SOIL. the song of the hus-
haadman may be heard all over this
great domain, while the hum Of indus
try, the noisy marts of trade and Our
white winged messengers Of commerce
j which girt the seas, betoken business
| activity.
Nor have we been unmindful from
time to time, as exigencies have re-
quired or opportunities offered of thu
necessity Of extending our territory
from the narrow confines of the original
colonies to such proportions as would
be adequate to the wants of a rapidly
increasing population Progress has
been our watchword. and westward the
star Of empire takes its way.
It is true that what has been accom-
plished has oft times been In the face
of determined opposition. No people
are always of one accord. We have
had and always will have, friendly DIFF
ferences of opinion on every important
public question. But with the advance.
ment and extension Of an already lib
eral education the solution of public
problems is becoming a matter Of no
serious concern. Looking with discern
ing eyes into the dawn of the twentieth
century we behold much in store to en-
nance the future greatness of the re-
public. Questions of state of the first