The Republican journal., 1903-07-02
evolution of mankind, this government

evolution of mankind, this government
shall cease to receive revenues from
the importation and distillation of in
toxicating liquor, and until they cease to
grant, as far as in them lies, license
or tax to every applicant; Until men ana
women in high places politically and So
cially cease to maintain a pernlclous
example; until, in the evolution OF the
world toward progress, better men, bet
ter times and better social condltlohs
shall take the place OF those now ex.
tant. 1t will come in the fullness OF
time 1t is written in the handwriting
of progress by inference and deduction
in the history of the fifty years past.
1t may take one hundred years, it may
take thousand years. Itseems a long
while to wait. 1t is long while to
wait but the black slave in the rice
swamps of Carolina and the cotton
fields of Georgia beheld the dawning OF
the morning after lapse OF two hun
dred and fifty years.
Comparatively few of us here present
remember the Civil War. Few re-
member the electric thrill, striking con-
sternation to the heart of this republic,
on the announcement of the firing on
Fort Sumter, the Presidents call for
troops. the loyal and patriotic responses
thereto, the mastering to arms, the de-
voted self-abnegation of parents who
gave their sons to their country. All
this is matter of history, and IN 1t
Stockton has a place. Not to dlscrlml-
nate where all were brave, but as Illus
trative of the spirit which inspired our
bows it was recently related by prl-
vate of Capt Rogers battery that IN
an engagement where this devoted bat
tery held a position so prominent ana
important as to draw the concentrated
fire of the rebel line, when an ava
lanche of hurtling shot and shell caused
men involuntarily to shrink and sway
backward, Capt. Rogers, drawing his
sword, said. Back to your guns, boys;
Back to your guns for the honor OF Old
Stockton" And this was the spirit
which inspired the heart and nerved
the arm of every Stockton volunteer
who enrolled himself beneath the flag
AID willingly laid his life upon the altal
of his country. John a. Andrews, the
great governor of Massachusetts,
said of such as these, ''On the heights
where they thundered down from the
clouds of Lookout Mountain their de
tiance to the sky they have graveI
with their names record lmperlsh
able
Surely then, as mother, should we
hold the old town in honor, ID love ahC
!, respect. Though her founders have
, passed away, though her flag no Longer
! adorns the sea. though her commercla
!. activity is paralyzed, her mechanics
dispersed, her ship-yards overgrowl
with weeds, her piers fallen INTO deca!
: though changing conditions have reie
: gated her industries into obscurlty, sil'
retires gracefully and on glorious re
cord, and we still love her for What sn'
has heen. and those of us who can VII
assemble here yearly, and after us oa
! children. to breathe her pure air EMO.
| her natural beauties and partake of he
. bountlfu! hospitalities which still sur
, yjve for she is our mother and this il
our home. My friends, in consideration
of the pleasure | have had i'll your SO
2 cietv. of the cordial greeting you have
given me. i'll might make suitable return
, / would rot give you silver or gold o
, diamonds. rubies of great price, | Woul(
t not give YOU landed estates nor stocks
. nor bonds. ! would give you happiness
5 And if ont of the philosophy of lie,
could evolve formula, it would rea(
; like the words of the great Nazarene
neighborly kindness, brotherly love
: GOOD will to men, and that sweet CHART.
Which covers d multitude of sins; an(
this believe to comprise the pith an(
essence of all that is best in all the
doctrines that ever were preached since
Christ was born in manger. And IL
these Stockton is not deficient
In closing, my friends, | will give yol
, sentiment. A beautiful sentiment
eminently suited to this occasion
flashed into my mind out of the great
sea of intelligence that surrounds us
from whence all suggestions come, put
bv the immortal Dickens into the moutl
of Tiny Tim, "God bless us every one,