The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-05
Lieutenant Governors Address.

The orator of the day was Lieutenant
Governor Newton w. Gilbert, of Angola,
Ind. Governor Gilbert was greeted With a
round of applause when he advanced to the
edge of the platform and began his speech.
His remarks were couched in polished die
ton and were of a character admirably
adapted to the occasion. He spoke, in part,
as follows:
w nave gathered here to-day. in COM
mon with patriots everywhere, 10 celebrate
the courageous and God-inspired act Of our
fathers of a century and a quarter ago. The
true import of Independence day seems al
most lost to view by many of our fellow
citizens, and 1t is we'll that organizations
such as these unite to preserve its charac-
ter. and to transmit TO future generations
unimpaired the principles Of the great dec
laration. Not since government began,
has a pen written a document of such far
reaching and benefcent effect as the one
guided by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. AS the
signatures to IL were recorded. the so-called
divine right of kings faded into the shad-
ows of the past. and in it's place appeared
the sovereign citizen, crowned with a halo
of Gods own making. Because of that
act, was instituted this great Republic, and
the most beauteous banner which ever the
breezes kissed was woven of cerulean blue,
stained with the blood and tears of freemen
everywhere.
The years which have since passed have
wrought a revolution in the habits of man.
kind. Man is winning the most eXtraor-
binary victories in every domain of hu-
his hand TO attempt. No region too re-
moe. no place too sacred, for his daring
eye to penetrate. He has robbed the earth
of her secrets, and sought 10 solve the mys-
teries of the heavens. He has secured and
subjected TO his service the elemental
forces of nature. He has made the fire his
steed, the winds his ministers, the seas his
pathway. the lightning his messenger. He
has descended to the bowels of the earth,
and walked in safety on the bottom of the
"a, IL hoe lffsol hfs haod ohnt0 tho
clouds and made the impalpable air his
resting place. He has analysed the stars,
counted the consultations and weighed the
sun. AS he. with the air of a conqueror,
has ridden down the years, the very light
ming from the clouds has turned the wheels,
an carried his voice from sea to sea. -
AMERICAN LIBERTY.
american liberty is composite in Its
character. and rich in its material. Its
sources are TO be sought among the ever
lasting truthy Of the universe. All ages
and all countries have contributed to the
result. The Pilgrim Of Massachusetts. the
Dutchman of New York, the Quaker of
Pennsylvania. the Swede of Delaware, the
Catholic of Maryland. and the Cavalier of
Virginia; all. united their brain, their
Drawn and their blood. to effect the grand
The blood of England. of
Holland, of France ana of IN was
distilled by the omnIscient hand OF God into
the most precious elixir of the ages. The
grea test glory of to-day is that we can
stand here and say, that We are not men
of Massachusetts. or men of Virginia. or
men of Indiana: that we are not Jew or
gentle, Catholic or Protestant; that We
are not Democrats or Republicans, Pro-
hibiticnists or Popuiists; but that. above
all and beyond all, We are Americans in
tie brOadest. the truest and the best sense
of the word; that we recognize no throne.
no union OF church and state, no donina-
ton OF class. or creed. or party.
Once only have we seen government by
the people put 10 the severest test. Once
only has liberty itself hung in the very
balance. Once only has a con1agration
been kindled. the ashes of which repose in
a million sepulchers. Once only have Co
lumbia's rivers run red with the blood of
her noblest sons. drawn forth by her own
keen blade. IL almost seems like a dream
70 those OF US who were too young 10 know
OF these events when they occurred. No
tongue can tell the horrors of hunger and
thirst endured by those OF you who par
ticipated in that great struggle No pen
can portray the awful carnage OF multi
piled battles. No artist picture the wasting
privation OF many a prison pen. No heart
can know. except IL has endured il. the
terrible pain OF separation from home and
wife and mother. But. out from this
sublime patriotism ana supremest suffer-
ing. came a reunited country and a fuller
expression OF tho principles enunciated
when our government was founded.
1T is not my purpose TO recount the old
story OF the newest and best development