The Record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1902-1904, 1903-07-24
. ration Delivered
3 y G e o. Sprin g.
meyer. July Ath,
1908.

Five hundred years ago New
World had never been dreamed of; a
hundred and fifty years ago the lnde-
pendence of the American colonies was
but a vain and idle hope; while fifty
years ago the questions of slavery and
states rights had not resolved them
selves into civil war. Yet, wonderful
to say all these things have come to
pass. How the trials of Columbus fin
ally triumphed in the discovery of the
New World you all know You know
also how after seven long years of
bloody war, the American colonies
achieved a glorious independence. And
the memory of the terrible conflict
which forever abolished slavery, def
nitely settled the ate's-rights theory,
and made the qualifications of citizen
ship separate from and regardless of
race, color or previous condition Of
servitude, the memory of this terrible
conflict, is still fresh in the minds of
some of you while the rest ofyou know
its very noteworthy feature. We no
longer speak of the Uuited States in the
plural, as that the United States are
composed of so many states and terri
tories, but IN the singular, namely, the
United States is a country made up of
states and territories. The basis of our
Independence, the bulwark of the abo-
lition of slavery, and the foundation Of
the supremacy of the federal govern
ment, is the Declaration of Indepen-
denee. The fame Of this document Is
worldwide. Compared to 1t Magma
Charta and all other bills ofrghts lapse
into insignifieance. Its conception
was in the equality of opportunity to
all men, and its justifications were the
Inherent and inalienable rights of hu-
manity. Americans of the past have
read it and admired il. You have
heard 1t read Ito-day. And Americans
of the present and of the future will
read it and glory in it, Ii enlbodies
the highest ideals of American govern
ment and American liberties, and 1t
has become 1.-THE rock upon which we
build our faith" for greatness and hap
piness. 1t inspires us with confidence
in ourselves and urges us on 10 new
deeds which shall make Us worthy rep
resentatives of our forefathers.
"a = l.. IL Of nj ~
seventeen hundred and seventy-siX
that the Declaration of Independence
was adopted by the Continental Con-
gress. On that day new nation was
born, nation which announced 10 the
world in a voice of thunder that the
will of the people should heueeforth
rule In the United States of America;
which proclaimed the true doctrine of
Government to be the proposition that
are created free and equal; and announ-
oed that the government of a people Is
inseparably associated with the consent
of the governed. What wonder is it
that for over century and a quarter
the Fourth of July has been a great
national holiday, when Americans
reiterate the doctrines established In
l776, renew their belief in those same
teachings and give new evidence OF
their determination to uphold them?
Ii instills all true Americans with a
greater love of country and makes them
ever more jealous of their many chirish-
ed liberties. We ln this little town are
now doing something toward that end.
And today in almost every hamlet and
2 city in this broad land, wherever the
: American flag floats, the people are
paving a cheerful tribute of gratitude
aud praise for the many blessings
! showered upon them by the men OF
seventeen hundred and seventy-siX and
those who came after them.
In observing the birth of the repub-
lie. the people have made ii a point TO
suspend all business and to try TO forget
all cares. They have endeavored TO
: make il day of complete abandon
ment of the ordinary duties and worries
of life, when they could give vent to
their pent-up feelings in every conceiv-
able way For how many years has
the booming of cannon, the shrieking
of bombs and fire-crackers in the hands
of Young America, the beauty of the
parade and the profuse decorations
, given notice TO the heavens that no
ordinary celebration WAS in progress,
| At night the splendor of the moon and
the stars has, year after year, been
: rivaled by the brilliant display of rock
{ cts and other fireworks and by torch
: light professions. Also, at some time
, during the course of the celebration, a
program including literary exercises
and patriotic songs and music was rem
: dered. But not only by this outward
? display have the people celebrated the
Fourth of July. | mean that even