Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-07-06


declaration OF Independence is the
fourth Of July entitled 20 the atten-
ton Of patriotic citizens.
Other events Of national importance
are IudisscIubIy connected with the
day. so that partly by intent and
partly by pure accident. the fourth %
July, aside from It's prestige as the Ia
tons birthday. has become one Of the
most distinguished days in the
chronology Of our country.
The first tariff bin that the United
States ever had was signed by Presi-
dent George Washington on the fourth
Of July. 1859. This measure, which
was the frst important legislation Of
the congress Of the new nation, was
then regarded as eminently patriotic,
and that consideration had much TO do
with the selection Of the anniversary
OF the declaration q independence as
the day for its Official PRONUNCIATION.
at that time the national congress
was sitting in session IN New York
city. and early in April James Madi-
son. Jr.. Of Virginia. member Of the
house o. repTes entatiyes, made the
proposition 20 meet the pressing
financial necessities OF the country by
a system Of imPost and tonnage duties.
The subject engaged the attention Of
the house until late into May, when
the bin was passed that with slight
amendments was subsequently colt
CURED in by the senate and signed by
the president So our tariff system
as well as our independence began on
the fourth Of July.
Mr.. Madison. the father OF the
measure. condensed into p lines. with
eight or nine words each. the es-
sential principles that governed I'M
post and tonnage legislation for many
years to come. Specific duties the
rule. al vaIorem duties the exception,
revenue the object. moderate duties,
the burden 81 taxation upon Injuries
these were the characteristics Of the
measure as. proposed and as finally
afouted. The ad valorem duties ran
from 3 20 IS per cent, the latter figure
being fixed for pleasure carriages.
Specific duties were also very mod
crate. The law was limited 70 expire
in June. 1895.
The Wyoming Massseres.
Thomas Campbell has celebrated IN
Gertrude Of Wyoming one Of the most
tragic and most pitiful events in our
country's early history. The poem,
as all know. is in Campbell's most
charming style. The poet sings:
Delightful Wyomingl Beneath thy
skies
The happy shepherd SWANS have
nauEht 10 DO
But feed their fioCks On green declivi-
ties
or skim perchance thy lake with light
canoe
From morn till evenings sweeter pas
time grew,
with timbrel. when beneath the forest
brown
Thy lovely maidens would the dance
renew.
And. aye, those sunny mountains half
way down
Would echo fagecIet from some TO
mantle clown.
The Wyoming valley on the Susque-
hanna river was as beautiful a
spot 100 and more years ago as il il
now. Possession o. the territory was
I'm DISPUTE between Connecticut and
Pennsylvania. and strife between con-
tending claimants was frequent. The
Tories were turned out. and then,
under command OF Colonel John But
Ter. they allied themselves 10 the
uefzhhoriu- Indians and returned with
a force OF !. 100 men. 600 Of whom were
savares. Colonel Zebulon Butler com
handed the settlers, but he and his
little army we're enticed out OF their
fort on the plea OF a parley and, hav-
ing been lei into ambuscade, were
slaughtered almost 10 man. The
fort was then attacked and forced TO
surrender. and many Of its defenders
were massaCrei. Il is said that Queen
Esther. a half breed Indian woman,
t1mahawked with her own hand II
persons 20 satisfy her revenge for the
killing Of a favOrite son. And when
this dread fourth a July ended IL
looked uron a tevasted valley. ruined
homes and mutilated cCrpses. while
little band ~ survivors, or so men
and GOO wCmen-were driven ont into
the trackIess wilderness 10 find a way
as best they miaht to a friendly settle
meut. a long journey that was only
accomplished after much suffering.
Washington Monument.
When the cornerstone q the Wash
f1gtou manument az Washington was
laid. July T. 1873, there was a bril-
liant asseUhlace. Among those in
atteI dance were a few men and wO-
men who had been contemporaries %
the father Of his country. Upon the
platform were seated side BY side the
widows % Alexander Hamilton and