The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-07-09


state and territory in the public do
main of this magnificent government
of ours. are paying, to a greater or less
degree, homage to the memories of this
natal day: and yet l venture the asser-
ton that nowhere are the surround
ings happier, the prospects brighteror
the record cleaner than we have here
in this young Hawkeye state. With
less waste land to the acre than in any
other state: with the highest standard
Of education: with a people whose low
atty to the right has never been ques-
tioner; with the smallest tax of any
state the Union; with no debt star
ing US N the face, SURELY the people
of Iowa have a reason to celebrate this
125th anniversary of our nations indie
p%endence. 1t is a good thing for US,
my friends, In passing, to reflect for a
moment what position Iowa has in the
galaxy of states. Have you ever
stopped to think that she stands
1st in smallest percentage of litter
acy.
LIST in the production of corn.
LIST in production of corn per capita.
lst in yield of corn per acre.
LIST in grain products of all kinds per
capita.
1st in number of swine.
lst in number of mich COWS.
1st in production of butter.
LIST in production of potatoes.
lst in school houses and number of
teachers employed.
And 37th in number of persons in
prison.
From the green isle of the sea. from
England's parent shores, from Ger
many and Italy, from France and the
Isles have ONE tens of thousands who
help to make up u citizenship; from
Norway, Denmark and Sweden have
come the splendid Scandinavian race.
And they, too, are among the earth's
best and most patriotic citizens.
Why should Iowa not rejoice and be
happy today? The highest mark of en-
frightened citizenship is its loyal devo-
tion to country. And it is a good omen
that as each year passes into history
the world finds America no less patri-
otto. twenty-five years ago this u
try met at the spot where the hell of
liberty first rang out its peal. With
our people, the representatives OF the
whole civilized world met. Monarch
ial and royal %splendor We'd with each
other for supremacy. but better Than
all this was the meeting of our own
people-American citizens-whose ev-
cry man is a sovereign and whose every
m is a queen. How wonderful
was that gathering! That old Quaker
city ~ Philadelphia then resembled
the Mecca of old, around which prec-
ious associations ALWAYS gather.
True. it had no house of Allah, with
its colonades, its pinnacles, its minar-
cts and dome, it's beautifully carved
wood and steps. and floors of exquisite
marble and granite. But there WERE
two buildings there, as sacred in an
Americans eyes as the Moslem.s Brit
ish Ullah is in theirs. Surrounded by
no with no broad avenues or
tesselated walks, but almost hidden
from public view, stood old Carpenter
Hall. whose every brick and timber is
revered from it's holy memories of our
first congress-, with its now enshrined
teachings. Grand old Independence
Hall was there too-a house of blessing
indeed. 1t has no black stone OF Nee
ca, dropped from an angels hand, and
worn half through with pilgrims kiss
ing, but at its front there is a stone
worn MORE than half through with the
feet of OUR pilgrims-sacred. indeed,
for on it stood Washington, Franklin,
Jefferson. Adams, Lafayette, Lincoln.
Garfield, Sheridan. Blaine, Hancock
and Grant, all speaking words, which,
through more than a century, have
thrilled the nation with patriotic sen
timents, and largely contributed to
make her what she is today-the great
est on the glote.
That wonderful gathering was the
resting place after a hundred years.
march of the continent. The greatest
of civil wars had convulsed the coun-
try, and then came this rest. Our VS.
itors from old England found the same
fires burning on our country's affairs
which our pilgrim fathers had kindled
when they landed on the rocks of Ply
mouth. The same splendid impulses
and lofty aspirations which had
throbbed in the bosoms of these early
settlers, these visitors found to have
permeated every phase of this new
worlds life, and under the shadows
SO peaceful--of these sublime princi-