The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-07-06


larity and sport.
HON. J. P. C0NNER'S SPEECH,
The brightest pages in the history OF
country. They tell of the dauntless cour-
age of our forefathers; of their struggles
for liberty and their deliverance from the
tyranny of Great Britain; of the birth OF
the nation, and system If government
founded on the doctrine of equal rights for
all men before the law; of the wonderful
development of the country and its ex-
alted position among the nations of the
earth.
The birth Of nation is great event in
the history of the world To the nation
itself, it becomes an event of supreme i'm
portance, and one to be celebrated on
each recurring anniversary. 1t is such an
event which we celebrate here to-day.
One hundred and twenty eight years ago
there was brought forth on this continent a
new nation, dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal 1t was
nation conceived in liberty and wrought
| out by immortal minds
| Well may we lay aside the ord
nary cares and duties of life and
devote this day, the anniversary of
our nation birth, to honoring the memory
OF our fathers by celebrating their glorious
deeds and achievem nts We are the
benehciaries of t cir labors, and enjoy as
a heritage, from them, the security and
happ ness of a free government. We are
here. on this occasion TO express our
enjoy. as free people. We should not
L stint ourcelvac in tha ,p,o,r+ of ar,t,,,,;
asm which we display. We ought to shout
with JOY and sing praises unto the Most
High. We ought to make this day of
genuine gladness and royal festivity, and
should make it So forever. AS long as
patriotism is virtue. and the memories
of our heroic ancestors are enshrined in
our hearts, the fourth of July will be a day
OF interest to the American people. If the
time ever comes when it shall cease to be
such it will be because the fires of patriot
ism are burning low. God grant that such
a time may never come
While this is properly day for amuse-
ments, and hilarity. we should also re-
member that it is day of great solemnity.
We should never forget that the founda-
tlons of the nation were laid in blood
| that the blessings which we enjov, were
purchased by the heroic sacrifices of our
| forefathers.
The events which eliminated in the
| adoption of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and the final separation of the
Colonies from England, will always be of
interest to the people. We admire the
| nobility OF spirit and character of tn ; men
who braved the dangers and endured the
hardships, incident to the early settlement
| OF the country, of those who, under Divine
fla 4
wildhess of the new world and laid broad
aud deep the foundations of great and
enduring civilization. We applaud the
sturdy frontersme en who in one direction
battled with the savages to protect their
homes and families, and in another COM
GATED the right of England to tax the
| Colonies without representation. We
honor those who devoted their energies to
changing the forests into fertile fields,
the erection OF school houses and churches
the building of cities, the developing of
mines and to Harvesting the energies of
the rivers of the country to serve the pur-
poses of man We commend the good
people of Boston for refusing to permit
the landing of cargo of tea. and
then themselves giving a tea party
and unloading it into the harbor We are
thrilled with the eloqusnce of Patric Hen
ry and others, which kindled flame Of
liberty along the whole Atlantic coast
We follow Paul Revere, on his midnight
ride, from Boston to Lexington and Con
cord aud hear his clarion voice, summon
| ing the minute men to action and on the
| following day we witness the first battle
| OF the Revolution, when at Lexiug-
ton and Concord the farmer patriots put to
rout the BRITISH horde
| NV the rude brdua IL o, claa +ho ,i,.,i
lhelr nag TO Aprl's breeze unfurleG,
Here once the embatted farmers stood
ANA hred the Shot heard round the
world"
We behold the sad face of the great
| commander, as he journeys from Phila-
! delphia TO Boston to take command of an
army, neither organized, equipped or
clothed, and to lead them against the
| trained veterans of the strongest nation in
the world. At Bunker hill we witness the
| BRUSH twice repulsed with heavy loss,
| ana the Americans compelled to retreat.
| only, alter their ammunition has given out.
1t was here that Gen. Warren, one of the
gentlest, noblest and greatest of patriots
was killed, and the country was poQrer by
reason of his death. These events, had
much to do with fastening the adop-
ton OF the Declaration of Independence
lime VIII not permit an account of the
| proceedings of the congress viii about to
take this decisive step. Never was there
as emoled IN any coun ry a body of men
OF higher character, clearer minds and
better hearts, than the. actors in this great
| drama, who, then and there mutually
pledged their fortunes; their honor and
their lives, to make good the declaration,
to (which they subscribed their names.
They fully appreciated the dangers to
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