Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-07-07

was oVer, tne wise, patriotic and
noble statesmen of those days,
drafted the Constitution of the
United States of America, which
was in time ratified by all the
states the preamble of which is as
follows:
"We the people Of the United
States, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defence, promote
the general welfare and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this constitution for the
United States of America. +"
The Declaration of Independence
together with the Constitution of
these United States is the shield
that today protects eighty million
free people, it guarantees religious
liberty so its people can worship
God without let or hindrance.
according to the dictations of their
own conscience, it guards well its
citizens and their interests, abroad
as well as at home. This shield of
the American people was conceived
and brought forth from the fiery
furnace of human trials, forged and
fashioned to fit the body polite
upon the hard anvil of time, tenn
pered in the blood of tens Of thous-
ands of patriots, upon countless
battlefields. Such is, my fellow
citizens, the foundation and ground
work of this grand superstructure
upon which rests securely t b e
grsndest and most enlightened
government the world ever saw.
A GovERNMENT, GOVERN BY THE
GOVERNED.
When the battle ship Maine was
blown up by Spanish treachery
war was declared; Captain Clark,
then in command of the Oregon,
was stationed on the Pacific coast
was ordered to sail at once and
join the Atlantic squadron. On
that memorable journey, the Ore
gon developed more power and
energy than it took to build the
pyramids of Egypt. The Egyp-
tian monarchs in order to satisfy
their own vain glory, caused to be
built great pyramids; history in
forms us that the people were sore
ly tried and distressed. Egypt
was poverished and the monarch
died bitterly hated by his subjects.
The United States, though it used
a great amount of power and
energy, at an enormous cost, did it
for the benefit of humanity and
the advancement of civilization.
Egypt crushed her own people by
tyranny. The United States ban
ished and wiped out Spanish tyr
rany for ever from the Western
Hemisphere, and set the distressed
down-trodden people of Cuba free.
This proves conclusively in my
mind that the world is advancing
by leaps and bounds toward the
betterment of civilization, and the
United States government, is in
the lead Of all other nations. The
United states never entered or en-
gagged in war wilfully with any
nation, and uot then until they
had exhausted every honorable
means to avert, and settle the con-
troversy peaceably. Therefore the
American arms have triumphed
in every war they have engaged in.
Dewey and his fleet destroyed the
Spanish fleet in Manila bay. Samp-
son and Schley were equally sue.
cessful at Santiago. On land the
American army maintained a
fighting line 81 miles long, gave
battle to the Spaniards on San Jaun
hill, put them to flight and cap
tured their trenches. Then came
their surrender. The commanding
generals of the contesting forces
met midway between the armies,
for the purpose of negotiating terms
of surrender. The Americans very
promptly informed the Spaniards
that nothing but unconditional
surrender would satisfy the Ameri,
can people. The Spanish general
looked searchingly from one face to
another, until he finally caught the
eye of Gen. Joe Wheeler, he seemed
to know that Gen. Wheeler was an
ex-confederate, and very naturally
looked for some sympathy there,
to Gen. Wheeler he said, "I cannot
accept such terms, if this is the
best terms you nave to offer, l will
have to continue the fight" Gen.
Wheeler, then said, "There is nc
use you can not win. tried that"
These few words of warning OF
Gen. Wheeler, firmly but kindly
spoke untold volumes. His words
meant that the greatest victory
that the South won was at Appo-
; matox, when the southern army
accepted unconditional surrender.
Gen. Wheeler's words and looks
meant that, in yonder army there
are thousands of the sons of those
who wore the gray, standing elbow
to elbow with those who wore the
blue, waiting for orders to advance