The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-07-07


ton this year rivaled that Of its balmy
days Of 1892. Things have changed
since then, and now We add to the
glorious celebration which marks the
inception Of our government, the joys
Of victory that have graced the charity
Of its people and the valor Of its sol
diery in the last war.
The extensive preparation and lib
eraI offering Of purses, together with
her sweeping reputation, GOOdland
drew a festive and magnificent crowd
from all quarters. People from the
surrounding towns began to arrive on
the night trains Of the Sd, and the far
mers from over a large area were in
town bright and early. A special Rock
Island train from Colby arrived at 9
o'clock, bringing about $50 visitors,
who were escorted from the depot by
the Goodland Military band Thus
was GoodIand's population swelled IN
til 1000 people were assembled within
her corporate limits. By this time the
sun shining brightly, both rapid
IL dried the pools Of water, and muddy
grounds which were soaked with rain
the night before, and added luster to
the city that had placed the stars and
stripes to the breeze in numerous
places, and lined the fronts with fes-
toons of bunting. No more splendid
scene has been looked upon in Sher-
man county. The prOfuse drapery Of
red, white and blue, considered in
itself would not avail; but when every
true American sees this comUina-
ton Of colors, a food of thoughts
come over him; Of oppression, Of war,
of victory; be is alive with patriotism
and conscious that he has a citizen
ship higher, grander, deeper, than that
which animated the Roman in his day.
And so the surging throngs in Good
land on the Fourth Of July were a glad
people and their acclamatiOns and the
sounds Of the fire crackers lent an &C
compartment to the stentorian solos
that came from the confectionery
stands.
At II o'clock the band headed the
procession formed on Boulevard and
marched to the city hall where Charles
". Smith, Judge of this Judicial dis
trict, delivered the Grafton of the day.
After the reading of the declaration of
independence by Wade Warner, Mr..
Smith arose and entertained the audi
ence with his scholarly address. He
departed somewhat from the old stere-
Otype July speech, and 1t is well that
he did, as every schoolboy knows the
story Of the revolution, and dwelt upon
principles of some concern. Beneyo-
lence and charity, said he, are essen
tial to national life. a community Of
interest and good will among men
ought and will make a nation perpet-
ual- Since the existence of a nation
does not attach its life to a single gen
GRAFTON, but bridges from one to an
other, and can only be represented to
the mind as a concept, it is spiritual
and therefore should be perpetual
While the cOlonists were uttering
their vehemence against the tyranny
Of the mother country, they themselves
were instituting slavery. How is this
to be explained? There is a time when
slavery represents a step in human
progress, and for the cogency Of the
states at that time it seems that all in
ternal differences and wrongs must be
subOrdinated to the greater attainment
Of liberty for themselves; but after
ward came the freedom Of the black
man at the cost of their own blood. He
also dwelt upon the acquisition of ter
ritOTy, beginning with Texas and the
Mexican war, and later of the recent ex-
pansiOn or Imperialism; and that con
ditiOns have arisen among US, both in
ternatiOnal and International, which
must be treated with delicacy and sub
jected entirely to the light of calm and
conscientious Judgment.