Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-07-04
rNN ARBOR, June 29.-lndepend-
- ence day is good time for mem
orios Of what the American Cn-
i1,,, hnd 70 d1, In order To achIeYp

ion had to do in order to achieve
her first stages of existence.
Possibly | may be able to convince
our thoughtful citizens that this day OF
glorious memories is also, and more
particularly, all occasion and opportun-
ity for looking somewhat more deeply
into the subject.
What precisely is the American I'm
ion as a great fact in the theory and
development of governments among
men
Slow, apathetie and out of touch win
his species must that man be, indeed,
who is not carried along upon the gen
eral tide of patriotism, ebbing out to
the stone fences of Lexington and be-
yond-out way out. past the lightship
of the later colonial period. so tha.
semi-darkness of liberty. in which
scattered bands of hardy pioneers
learned that this new land was nothing
less than their own.
We must remember. however, that
there was nothing in those early days
that could be called glorious except the
one fact: Men dared to be free and
were ready to take the consequences of
their initial steps to achieve freedom,
and seperate existence later on; and
finally, perhaps, to leave something to
rs. For it is in the very essence of great
soIS5 to look into the future and say:
Who knows but our children and their
descendants may complete this work?
Let us be satisfied with what we have
done We can do no more now"
In this. think. is the true and indy
ing glory of the Fathers; they dared;
they stood ready to endure the chains,
the death. if necessary, for principle
and when they could do no more, they
went to their rest looking forward
hopefully to us. There is no break
therefore, in the story of our reason to
be.
On this first Fourth of the new cen
fury that story viii be told in the met
ropolis and at the cross roads school
house. to the lettering pioneer and the
lad in knickerbockers. to the little girl
with the light of life's early summer
in her sunny eyes and to the mother Of
grown up men with the strength of love
and wise direction beneath her glasses.
Long may that story be repeated. Long
may it be listened to with affectionate
interest When that interest becomes
old-fashioned and uninspiring to the
great American multitude, then for
sure fact must we look about us and in
quire into the new causes and convic-
tons.
Be it ours in this place to realize for
a few moments what manner of chal-
lenge it is that the Fathers abided by
and that we must abide by in the face
of the old world idea that governments
are instituted among men to rule, per-
haps to take care Of the people,
We the American people. have a stiff
fight on our hands. All history seems
to be against our reason to be- Ad-
vanced science is certainly against us
The American Union, as stage OF gov
ernmental development. has no reason
to be. We are break in the line. On
the other hand. the people are them,
selves an important factor in that de-
velopnent hence there Is no cause for
alarm. Tnis is not an alarmist thought
and we believe all good ends of patriot
ISM, with truth and sincerity. will best
be served by knowing exactly what IL
our status as fact in the growth of
nations, in the spirit of national lib
erty,
The oracle of history points TO long
pathway of bloodshed spasmodic out
bursts Of love of country, great deeds Of
leaders among men, that pathway is
strewn with the wrecks OF ancient and
medieval commemorative. and the
C1acle of history says: Your republic
is merely a revolt and reaction from
cligarchy the worst form of govern
ment. to pave the way for the empire,
which is the strongest form and also
the acme OF the glory and growth and
power Of any great nation.
The oracle could say, In illustration,
that Canada has stayed in the line OF
hfgtofy and Is row part Of an empire.
while the American Union. that went
out OF the line, is gradually coming to a
sort of pseudo-empire condition. En-
pire as to new possessions, imperial re-
public in her grandeur and strength
and strong government at home--a
strong home government compared with
which imperial Germany and even all-
tocratic Russia are somewhat mild In
actual effectiveness.
The Fathers Of the republic and their
propaganda were the loosely organized
I forces Of great principle that would
! not olerate oppressive conditions i'm
posed by a government beyond the sea
/ but endured with delight their own SELF
Imposed privations. as pioneers. before
/ liberty was In question: and, when the
supreme struggle with beyond seas was
upon them. these same pioneers saw
( what they had done and stuck to H..
There was no gradual growth Of gov
! ,rnment forms and methods in his
There was, strictly speaking. no
steady growth Of the form~ and instru-
mentality OF freedom
There was a challenge. clash Of
arms, seven FEARS martyrcom Of q