Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-13
EnniskilIeners Loyal Lodge Of
crangemen Holds Its An
nual Celebration.
BIG PICNIo AT L1TTLgs GROVE
Patriotic Addresses by Messrs.
Weld, Searle and
Others.

Orspgemen No. 1872, of that village,
celebrate the 212th anniversary OF
the battle of the Boyue
For days the farmers of the central
part of Rock Island county and the
northern part of Mercer county plan
their work 50 they may take day in
the busiest season of the year and 90
to the Orangemen's picnic. Even the
Fourth of July takes a rear seat,
many of those who feel that they can
not afford to lose two days so close
together working on that day in order
TO give the 18th a clear field.
In the city the affair is becoming
scarcely less popular. Although the
grounds are II dusty miles from
Rock Island, every year sees larger
proportion of city people there than
the one previous to it. 1t is fair and
lovely field for the politician, the
perfect equality of a who mingle to-
getner in the shade of the spread
ing oaks being altogether favorable to
the furtherance OF political aspira
Jions. Business men, also, have be-
gun to take advantage of the occasion
to do different sort of advertising
and the picnickers are RECALLED with all
sorts of ingenious advertising con-
trivances, while the very trees laud
the inducements held out by various
enterprising firms of the three cities.
Refreshment stands do all kinds of
business, orange cider. of course, be-
ing the favorite drink. Photograph
ers. fortune tellers, cane men and the
more rank fakirs flourish immensely,
although all forms of money ma
machines are BARRE. The programs,
which are always presided over by
Uncle BLACK" Jimmie johnson, ale
of the hearty Fourth of July sort,
with a great deal in them to foster
healthy growth of patriotism among
those present.
Crowd Lively and SocIable.
Yesterdays picnic was not ma
terially different from those of fol-
ner years. The crowd was perhaps
not quite as large as had been seen
o the grounds, but it was Just Al
lively and as democratic as ever. o.
account of the peculiar crop conu,
ons that have prevailed this year
t he work has suddenly been piled
upon the farmer and many were kept
at home by ripening grain O~iog
to the heat that has prevailed OF late
it was thought wise to omit the
parade that has been feature of the
d .y's program heretofore and there
were no formal exercises till after
din er. Bleuer's band was present
and gave fine concerts both before
and a ter noon.
Most of the picnickers brought
their dinners and dined car ly.
Promptly at l o'clock j. j. johnson,
the veteran president of the day,
called the meeting to order, and Rev.
ID. Il. Robertson, of Hamlet, offered
prayer. After the president of the
day had delivered few remarks APP
propriate to the occasion. he intro
duced States Attorney Ii. A. Weld,
who spoke for half an hour.
He went back To the event which
Orangemen's day is designed to COM
memorate. and touched briefly upon
the historical significance of the &C.
casion, with an allusion to the prin-
ciples for which the opposing mon
archs, William III and James III,
fought 211 years ago. lin the battle
of today" he said, lit is not neces-
sary to fight for personals liberty. for
it is guaranteed to us by the consti-
tuition. Neither is it necessary for us
to fight for the right to worship God
as we please. for that also is guaran-
teed to us. Freedom of thought and
of speech are our birthrights as Amer
lean citizens" Mr. Weld referred to
the traits of character that have made
The Celt factor in the affairs OF the
new continent, incidentally mention
ing among a mum Der of examples of
tn, ir descendants such names as Har-
rison and Mckinley Speaking of
the progressive spirit that char
acterizes Americans. he pointed to
our marvellous growth and develop
ment as nation since the war of
1898. giving as the principle then es-
tablished the right of America to pro-
hibit foreign countries from commit
ting any nuisance on this hemisphere
such as Spain was guilty of in the ISL
aud of Cuba. He also ventured the
prophecy that in the new possessions
where the Anglo saxon foot had been
set il will not be removed unless by
other people of it's own race.
A Patriotic Occasion.
Ex-State's Attorney g. j. Searle was
next called upon and made few per-
tinent remarks He was glad TO see
the addresses Of the previous speakers
as we'll as the feeling shown by the
audience take such a patriotic turn.
The occasion he considered one
of patriotic observance. rather
than as one for the reviv-
al of class feeling. The change
of the heart of Orangemeu was due to
the assimilating influence of ABeri-
canism The foreigner. upon taking
up bis residence here, breaks loose
from the mental barriers which have