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

-N%NAg NN1 - 80 80AA- A-N
temptations which are trying US are not
the temptations which beset the footsteps
of the men of 1776. nor the dangers which
threaten our pathway the ones which sur
rounded them. Those men were few in
number; We are many. They were poor:
we are rich. They were weak: we are
strong. What is il that we lack to-day?
Meaith2 Behold 1t in our hands. Power?
God has given il to US. Liberty? 1t is our
hirthright We have a government founded
IN the hearts Of men, built by the people
for the common good. We have a land
flowing with milk and honey; our homes
are happy, our workshops busy, our barns
are full. The railroad, the telegraph, the
telephone, the printing press. have brought
US together as one family. A multitude
pours In upon us from the four corners OF
the earth, mingling the blood Of many
races In a common stream, and swelling
the rich volume of our English speech with
varied music from a hundred tongues. We
have a long and glorious history. a past
ghttering with heroic deeds, an ancestry
fun of lofty and imperishable examples.
we nave passed through danger. endured
priVaion. been acquainted with sorrow,
been tried by suffering. We have journeyed
IN safety through the wilderness, and
crossed in triumph the Red sea of civil,
strlIe. We have sent forth our sons 10 bat
tie for the freedom of other peoples. We
have planted our glorious flag on distant
isles or the sea, carrying liberty to those
who never knew its meaning. Cheers and
tears of rejoicing have greeted 'Old Glory
even in the Forbidden City of the ancient
capital OF the oldest empire upon the globe.
The rising sun. during every hour of the
twenty-four, as ii circles this old round
world. kisses this beauteous banner.
What pride 20 know that the flag. flung
10 the sreeZes more than a century ago,
syInDollng as IL does principles only less
precious than those represented by the
banner of the cross of Christ, has never
known defeat. What pride 10 know that
has carried liberty 10 stranger peoples.
what pride 10 know that the oppressed and
downtrodden everywhere as they look on
nigh tor help may behold it in skies which
never before were kissed by its beauty!
what pride to know that the sons OF the
men who wore the blue and the sons OF the
men VINO wore the gray and the sons Of
the man who wore the garb of a fugitive
slave marched side by side carrying il TO
It's new glories! What pride TO know that
at this moment as we listen we hear in
wild acclaim the cheers. and as we look
We see In deepest gratitude the tears that
greet the establishment of civil government
. under Its folds for ten millions OF our
brother men,
DANGER IN sELF-SATISFACrION.
But there is danger that in our self
satisfaction and pride we may feel that
there is nothing left for which to strive;
that our position is assured. Many of us
have ehe best of our lives before us. Let
me suggest that the capacity OF man to
rule himself is to be proven in the days to
come, not by the greatness Of his wealth,
nor by his valor or. the field. not by the ex-
tent OF his dominion nor by the splendor
OF his genius. The dangers of to-day come
from within. The worship of self, the love
of power, the lust for gold. the weakening
or falth, the decay of public virtue, the
lack OF private worth-these are the perils
enemies we have 10 fear; these are the trail
tors which infest the camp. We see them
daily face TO face: in the walk of virtue, on
the road 70 wealth, in the path of honor,
on the way 10 happiness. There is no peace
between them and cur safety. Nor can we
avoid them and turn back. 1t is not enough
TO rest upon the past. No man or nation
can stand still. We must mount upward
or go down. We must grow better or
worse. IL is the eternal law. We cannot
change II. Man must eternally aspire. Man
must eternally labor. Else here on the
threshold OF the future. the. voice of hu-
manity will plead to lis in vain. The years
that are before us are a virgin page. We
can inscribe them as we will. The future
or our country rests upon us. The fate Of
humanity may be in our hands. That plead
ing voice, choked with the sob of ages,
which has so often spoken to deaf ears is
lifted up to US. 1t asks US to be brave.
consistent. true to the teachings OF our
history, animated by civic righteousness
Ii asks us 10 be patriotic; loving our coun-
try above all earthly things; making her
her fame our own. 1t asks US in the name
or posterity. In the name of freedom, in
the name of God himself. to aspire eternal
~ 10 better and to greater things.
And l believe the answer will be re-
turned. and sent reverberating down the
corridors of time: W. will be true 10 the
trust reposed in us; we will cherish the
institutions of our fathers; we will trans
NIT TO our children, elevated and unim-
paired, the beauties of our great Republic.
Aye, more than this, We will assume the
freeman's burden. heavy though IL be. and
with it the glory, God-given as il is, of
carrying liberty around the globe; so that,
in coming years our flag will symbol liberty
to peoples everywhere; and countless mil
lions, as they see its beauty in the skies.
with tears Of thankfuiness upon their
cheeks. and gratitude to God within their
hearts. will reverently exclaim, My flag
and my country ."
Following Mr.. Gilbert's address Capt. P.
j. kellsher was presented by General Car
nahan and gave in his inimitable style a
recitation entitled John Burns at Gettys-
burg" The exercises at the pavilion ter
minated with the singing of 1.-The Star
spangled Banner by the assembled null
titude, led by Gen. Benjamin A. Richard
son. Ex-Lieutenant Governor Haggard
was unavoidably detained and his address
had TO be omitted. Sergt. Hans Pickles
exhibition of the German manual of arms
was left out for a similar reason.
MILITARY DRILLS.
The remainder of the programme con-
sisted of military drills, and these attracted
even greater crowds than the music and
speeches. A number of boys military
companies were expected to enter into a
competitive drill. but Company A of the
Father Mathew Brigade was the only one
that put in an appearance. Under the skilled
direction of Captain Kelleher. First Lieut..
Theodore Walpool and Second Lieut.. Frank
Duffey the little fellows of Company A
gave an admirable exhibition of their
knowledge of drill tactics and were cheer
fully awarded the prize, a fine snare drum.
Sarcely had Captain Kelleher Withdrawn
his juvenile soldiers from the field than a
cry went up Of Look Quit Here come the
battery boys" The local artillery battal-
ion. known officially as Battery A of the
Indiana National Guard. has always been
an object of local pride. but the young men
composing the organization have probably
never before appeared TO such fine advan-
tage as yesterday. The delicious breeze
that swept the drill field seemed to spur
them TO Guido all previous efforts. and the
bursts of applause from the multitude that
literally formed a living wall around the
place. Late in the afternoon the battery
fired the national salute of forty-fve guns.
In the evening, after supper. the festivi-
ties of the day were brought to a highly
spectacular finish by a splendid display of
fireworks, after which everybody went
home vowing TO himself that If he lived
until next Fourth of July he would not
think Of passing the day anywhere else bur
at Garfield Park with the veterans. An
account of the celebrations yesterday would
be incomplete that did not mention the
members of George II. Chapman Post. No.
209. This post was the only body of G. A.
r. veterans that attended the exercises
as an organization. The banner and colors
of the post were stationed in the very heart
of the woods and all day long a huge lar
of the very best lemonade was kent son