Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-10
Col. d. q. Lyon.

that Manchester people nau done.
Col. d. e. Lyon.
With such a grand assemblage and
such an inspiring theme as we are to
consider, it is most fitting on this
day, which our forefathers made
memorable 1876 years ago. as they I
launched the program of an embryo
republic which they believed would
be the memorable foe of tyrants and
one man power, and bring 10 the 'op-
PRESSED of other lands the blessings
Of constitutional liberty. 1t is this
wondrous contribution in aid of man
kind that moves us to proclaim our
patriotism now. know not how
others feel on this glorious day. but l
believe know that as we again con-
secrate ourselves anew to the princi-
pies of constitutional liberty, and
again briefly consider the marvellous
history that lies behind us, we are
met with such stupendous work our
ancestry accomplished, that our
warmest inspirations we'll nigh fail
us when we try to comprehend what
they wrought in the providence of
the Great Architect of the universe,
since the morning that gave birth to
the immortal charter of our liberties,
July 4, 1776.
II was, fellow citizens, by and
through the seven battle years of the
Revolution that they fought out the
principles Of self-government which
we enjoy today. But little do we
know of the sacrifice made, of the
devotion of the old patriot band as
they worked out and battled out the
plan of Government of the people.
by the people and for the people"
All, fellow citizens, the laying of the
foundation of our republic 1876 years
ago worked out more reaching re-
suits, tending to the welfare of the
civilized world, than all the other
centuries this side of the tragedy of
Golgotha. The revolutionary patriot
whose memory we revere believed,
each one of them, that he was born
not for himself but for his country.
In that belief they planted the tree of
liberty, which has taken deep root,
emblematic of endurance and long
life. Tumult and wild storms have
swept through the branches, vet here
it stands after many weary siege
still rock-rooted throughout great
continent, not limb, twig or leaf
withered.
Nowhere beneath the sun can a
people be found SO favored as we are
today. We have a wonderful heri-
tage, and it is we'll that we assemble
and once again renew our patriotism
in the presence Of those that will by
and by take our places. The firm
foundation of our ancestry still
abides; ''our flag is still there, the
emblem of united people. We are
not seeking for any outside alliances,
our domain is nearly a continent. We
are controlling the markets of the
world in many things. We have q
population of over 76.000,0 900, with
fertile land enough to support many
times that number. The oppressed of
all nations are reaching. out to us.
and our ships are sailing on all seas.
We have too, thank God, an American
Sunday, with free pulpit, a free
press, the freedom of speech and a
free school. What more can we ask,
and do we fully appreciate them? Be-
hind these bulwarks the fathers OF
the republic fought the battles of the
revolution and won. We can see them
at Lexington, Bunker Hill. Saratoga,
in the retreat through the JERSEYS, al
Valley Forge, at Cowpens, at Mon.
mouth, and finally at the capitulatior
at Yorktown. With these facts, with
such a history, with such an ancestry,
we all know why it is that today we
are not only the wonder but the ad
miration Of all the world. We have
q right to rejoice today; our Fourth
of July is sacred, hallowed day =; the
embers that were left with the sign
~ tat; will IA
quenched. The historian. Thousand
brighter and grander as an ever re
curing evolution in the procession O
time. It will be known while the ma
tions survive that the founders of oul
republic first and forever unravelet
the snarls that bound them in chain
by ruling tyrants. The conflict fol
lowing the Declaration of Indepen
dence belongs to the history of tn
world, and because of the establish
ment of organized liberty by tn,
peace of 1888, the world has had al
advancing progress in all things tina
tend to make the human family Law
abiding and supporters Of constitu
tional liberty.
The principles embodied in on
own charter of liberty were not alto
gether the production or conception
of the illustrious patriots wh'
framed, signed and launched it. Han
cock, John and Samuel Adams
Gerry, Livingston, Franklin, Jeffer
son, Harrison, Carroll, with thu
other signers of the declaration, hat
resolved to make effective the indi
vidual dignity of man. They re
solved that "all men are created
equal, :" and had the right to life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
and to that end they mutually pledged
thier lives, fortunes and sacred homo
to establish government for TIN
benefit of the governed. Marcus Au
relius, standing at the Threshold Q
the Christian era, looking forwar,
seventeen centuries in the history 0
his race, said, Mankind are unde
one common law, and if so, they mus
be fellow citizens, and belong to tn
same body politics. Government b.
the governed was as old as Aristotle
and was believed in by Plato. TIL
principle of human liberty had at al
of men, and like grain Of seed
waited from the older continents, j
took root here. under the proclama
tion of the fathers, that all men wer
equal before the law. The proclama
tion we today yenerate was an as
sault by the common people upon tn
barbarity and tyrannical power Of
king, unfit as the signers said, TO
ruler of free people. These wer
serious charges to make, but on thel
the war of the revolution was Tough
to finish and the sacred instrumen
was upheld by the sturdy race of me-
whose memories we cherish today.
Briefly let us examine what liza
been accomplished by the 1876 year
behind u.s. We have made stupen
dous progress from the beginning
and have wonderful future. His
tory teaches that single battle Otter
decides the fate of q nation. Notabl,
was this the case at Pharsalia, Bos
worth's Field and Waterloo. 1t is al
SO true of our own loved republic. Ii
terrible battle, one never to be for
gotten. the perpetuity of this republic
was made certain and abiding at Get
tysburg in 1863 Constitutional liber
, tv yvos thera established aS fnund in