The record-union., 1899-07-05
THE GRAFTON.
Eloquent and Patriotic Address by
Judge Gaddis Of Woodland.


Judge E. E. Gaddis, of Woodland, the
orator OF the Day, on being introduced,
spoke as follows:
FelloW Citizens: We meet to-day to
celebrate the most momentous event
In the history of any nation. Momen-
tous, not by reason alone of the inter-
est we take in the birth of our COM
mon country, but momentous in the
enunciation of those principles of lib
erty and humanity actuating the foun-
ders of the Republic in asserting and
demanding the inalienable rights of
man. Those principles did not apply
alone, however, to the fragmentary
government which sprang from the
revolution, nor did they come into ex-
1stence at the mere command of a
Jefferson. They were then, as they
will always be, coextensive with the
universe and coeval with time But 1t
remained for the immortal Jefferson
to clothe them in that beautiful Ian
guage which thrills the American heart
and which inspires patriotism in ey-
cry American breast, and it was allot-
ted to the American people to exempli-
fy those principles in the practical adj
ministration of government and to
demonstrate the justice of reposing
sovereign power in the hands of the
governed
On these principles as a foundation
has been erected that sublime super
structure which we behold everywhere
about us to-day. Dedicated to the cause
of liberty and consecrated by the blood
of her heroes, she stands firmly forth
ho 30 =
fought and died for principle and vim
dicating the righteousness Of their
cause.
What other nation, past or, present,
can claim It's origin in a war of prin-
ciples? The sturdy sons of the Revo-
luton fought, not for conquest. No
selfish motives led them to battle amid
dangers of the elements more deadly
than the foemans arms. Rocked in
the cradle of liberty and imbibing the
enchanting draughts of freedom s
cause, they resolved in the face of ev-
cry adversely and determined, regard
less of every consideration personal to
themselves, to plant the standard of
free government on this Western conti-
nent for themselves, their families and
their posterity, where it might remain
forever beacon light to the nations
of the earth shedding the luster of the
MONDAY sun to mark the path Of lib
erty.
From the earliest formation of soci-
ETY. the tendency of civil government
has been toward oppression. Bloody
and cruel wars have been fought, con-
ventfons have been held, commissions
have been appointed and arbitrations
have been had, but the evolution Of
time has witnessed again and again
the encroachment of the sovereign
power upon the rights Of the common
people. What was the condition Of af-
fairs that called her subjects to wrest
from a monarchy the Magma Charta
and lay the foundation of English con-
stitutional liberty? Was it right for
those people to submit to rule of
tyranny in which the rights of per-
son and Of property were not recognize
ed. and in which the arbitrary caprice
of king could on a moments notice
confiscate all earthly possessions of his
subjects?
Was it right that the American col.
onists should pay tribute to a power
which refused them representation and
of the Revolution was a war of hu-
mainly, and the motive impelling it is
aptly described In Sheridan's famous
invective on the conduct of Warren
Hastings In India, where, in defending
the action of tho native inhabitants
in rebelling against the wrongs inflict-
ed upon their country, he said they
were justified by that motive which
nature, the common parent, plants in
the bosom Of man, that feeling which
tells him that man was never intended
to be the property of man, but that
when, through pride or insolence OF
power, one human creature dares to
tyrannize over another, it is a power
usurped and resistance is a duty"
Governments derive their just pow
ers from the consent Of the govern
ed" is the language of the Declaration
of Independence, land whenever any