The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-07-11
UNCLE SANS
I26 BIRTHDAY
Cannon ROared from Fort Nom
sense, PYrOteCnics ROared
From Golf Grounds.

in Camp-Eckert's Band Discourse
Fine rIusic to Appreciative Audi
ence ON Green-Patriotic Addresses
i'm First Church by Prosecutor
rIills and Rev. DIR. Hurlbut
The 126th anniversary of the Decla-
ration of American Independence was
appropriately observed in Morris
town on Friday. Just how the patri-
otic citizens of one hundred years
ago observed the day, the records fail
to show. In 1852, half century ago,
a big celebration of the day was held
in Newark to which the local papers
advised the citizens of all the neigh
boring villages to attend. A number
of the smaller towns advertised
fairs for the benefit of local chu1 ches,
of this city being among the number.
At dawn on Friday morning, the
day was ushered in by ringing of
various church bells and also the
court house bell. The bells rang
again at noon and also at sunset.
Salutes were fired from Fort Nonsense
by the Lincoln Guards who were
encamped on the knoll just above the
reservoir. A number of the company
were present and the visitors who
were fortunate enough to drop in
were cordially entertained. The
weather was delightful. Strange to
say, while there was the usual noise
produced by fire crackers AMI the like,
no accidens occurred, and the town
was unusually quiet-for a Fourth
of July. This was especially noticea-
BILE in the evening when large num-
Der of citizens went to the grounds of
the Morris County Golf Club where
an elaborate program of fire works
was displayed.
The services at the First Presby-
terian Church were interesting and
impressive. Flags were draped
round the platform on which were
seated a numper of the committee
and guests. Mayor Charlton 7. Reed
presiding A chorus from lndepend-
ent Hose Co., No. 1, urder the able
dictatorship of j. Fred Runyon
lead the singing, the first selection
being "The Star Spangled Banner. :"
The invocation was offered by the
Rev. S. q. Batten. Henry 9. Pit
ney, Jr.. read the Declaration of In
dependence after which an address
was made by Alfred Elmer Mills,
whic h was a masterpiece in every re-
spect 1t follows in full:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentle
men:
Upon this great anniversary of our
National existence it seems fitting
that we should pause for moment
and think-think of what we owe to
the Past, in order that we may the
better realize our obligations to the
Present and Future.
Certainly no place more appropriate
for this purpose could have been
chosen than this spot, hallowed by so
many sacred memories and upon
which so many Revolutionary heroes
have worshipked.
One hundred and twenty six years
have passed since jefferson penned
that immortal compact of civil
liberty which has been read in your
hearing
AS the years roll by we are begin
ming more and more to understand
the full significance of the founding
of the Republic.
The day we celebrate marks not
merely the progress of our national
life; it has also become one of the
milestones along the broad road high
way of civilization.
For / know of no event. outside of
sacred history, since the beginning
of recorded time that has done more
TOR the uplifting of the human race
than the recognition of the principle
that the people is the source from
which all governments should derive
their power.
In founding this nation our fore
fathers gave voice to the idea that
had been slumbering in the mind of
man for centuries--the idea that the
majority should govern.
They believed that "by trusting
the people, the good and the bad, the
rich and the poor, the wise and the
ignorant, in the end you educate the
race. "
They believed that by trusting the
people they would secure not per-
feet government, not necessarily a
good government, but the best COVER
ment obtainable while human nature
remains as it is. -
They realized that great truth,
recognized by the historian Gibbon,
that we have two eduCatiOnS--Ono
which we derive from our teachers
and one which we give ourselves.
That the latter is the only true
education-the education which we
receive from our conflict with the
world. from our daily occupations,
from earning our daily bread.
That only by being made to bear
responsibilities can men be trained to
unravel the many difficult problems
of government and of life.
They realized the value of discus
sion-the fact that the truth can bet
ter be reached by the constant friction
of mind on mind
They realized the value of free
speech and free press.
They knew that a government to
be lasting must have the broadcast
foundation and that no government
can have a broader foundation than
that based on universal suffrage.
They recognized the fact that only
by elevating the individual can YOU
elevate the race.
They had good will toward man,