Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1902-06-26

bring to the consciousness of the peO-
pie the warning OF the tremendous ex.
amples Of the past, how 20 so place be-
fore them the object lessons painted
by the hand of God upon the canvass
OF history, that our own dear land
shall not become as they.
The foundations of this nation were
laid by God-fearing men, earnest
patriots who had suffered long, and
who found that all petitions to their
their earthly ruler had failed; when
their cries for relief were answered by
sneers OF derision, then they held out
their hands to God and sternly fol-
lowed where He led them, and
strengthened and sustained by Him
they were enabled to fling from off
their shoulders the burden Of that
iren hand which oorroded all it
touched, and they became free peo-
pie, free to govern themselves and TO
worship God in their own way
Thus was our republic born, the
first in this western world; born to an
inheritance OF fresdOm-but not to
all. II we look closely we shall find
even there seed which sprung up
later and brought bloodshed and
misery upon us until we were near
unto national death-the curse OF
slavery.
But there was established a as foun-
datiou OF the nation that founda-
mental law which, if not departed
from, will in time become the corner
stone of a governmental system which
which shall be copied in every land
upon the earth.
l think it well on an occasion like
this to recall for moment those days
of labor and trevail when this nation
was born.
When events of the past half GEN.
tury have taught us that every man
is civilian in times Of peace and
soldier when the trumpet calls, we
may look with glowing pride TO the
days of '76, when upon the land where
now stand great cities, men worked
their farms with rifle at hand and
ever listening ear 20 hear the tap OF
the drum which should call them to
arms-the MiJ6.Se Men OF the Revo-
luton. Our cssT1fensnould be taught
to cherish and revere that holy pat
riotism that prompted the hanging Of
the lantern in Old North Church; that
started Paul Revere upon his mid.
night ride; that animated Ethen
Allen when in the grey Of dawn when
he demanded of the frightened Britons
the surrender Of Ticonderoga in the
name of the Great Jehovah and the
the Continental Congress; that sus-
tanned Putnam in his wild ride down
the mountain side through raging
torrent and over boulder and cliff; that
held up the hands Of Washington
through those seven long years OF pri-
walton and frequent disaster; that in
Southern swamp or Northern vale
kept hearts strong and steadfast, de-
claring that they must have liberty
or receive death; until finally at York
town the cross Of st, George was
trailed in the dust and Old Glory
swung proudly out upon the breeze
alone; never In all these years which
have passed, and never in all the
years to come we hope, 10 be hauled
down to give place to any other.
Every boy In school is taught our
progress along the line OF temporal
prosperity up to the days of '6I; the
growth OF the country; the invasion OF
the British and their repulse; our
glorious victories on land and sea: OF
Perry on Lake Erie, of Jackson be.
hind his bales Of cotton at New Or,
leans; Of the birth Of the Republic oi
Texas and its union with the States
OF the war with Mexico and its glor.
ioss series OF victories: of the military
spirit,it engendered in the South, and
the arrogance that waxed so strong
upon the riches consisting OF the souls
and bodies Of their slaves, the feeling
that they who had not to work fol
their wealth we're superior to the
white men Of the North who had tc
earn their own, that they In the South
were the ruling class to whom the res,
OF US must submit; the same SLOW
growth of sentiment in the breasts O,
the men of the North that In the
days of '76 had eliminated in the
Boston tea party; the same gradua
Tightening of the belt and prspara
tion that our ancestors had felt aut
known, and then that moment O,
horror when we knew that Sumpte,
had been fired upon, and that th,
struggle for the life Of the nation hac
begun.
Years ago, when I was attendin,
one Of the great national convention
for the nomination Of q president tc
these United States, I was going witt
some gentlemen to make a call on tn,
| delepatinn NJ one of the eastnrr .to.ua