Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-07-12
The Speech Given by Rev
Richardson, on The
Fourth

Outline of the address July 4th in Extra
Iowa by F. H. Richardson, Pastor Congre.
gational Church:
| The history and principles of a nation
are written in its flag. The Royal Cross of
st. George gave place in the American coll
| ONES to the Pine tree flag, the Rattle
| snake flag and other flags signifying diff
| ferent phases of the ideas which finally
eliminated in the Stars and Stripes, June
II ~. The final emblem was the propuct
OF woman,s brain and hand who has borne
her full share in all the tolls and sacrifices
Tor the progress of humanity and freedom
| In the making of our national emblem she
chose field of blue bestudded with sill.
very stars, thus signifying the long night
OF the oppression of the many by the fav-
ored few. The clouds so long darkening
the human race clearing away revealed 10
Shining stars which has increased to as in
number. But with their shining there
comes the dawn of the day of human Ii
berty and equality yet to be. Our flag
stands for union and protection, not for
license, not for anarchy, but for organized
government, the unio, one and insepera-
BILE.
| AS one nation we stand for the divine
rights of man. Without sign of regal au-
| thority or al atom of crown in it's ensignia
Every star. every band, every thread and
fold significant of liberty. Our flag pro-
claims gospel of a government for the
people, of the psople, and by people. 1t
| stands for ebual rights for all and special
faVors for none, this principal laid down
by the founders of our nation of '76 was
wrought into the social body of our people
by Abraham Lincoln 1863 and extended to
our neighbors by Mckinley in 1898 and is
now being applied to the commercial re-
latlons OF our people by Roosevelt. The
heroes who fought the wars of our country
were men OF great conceptions and high
ideals. Valley Forge and Gettysburg
and on thousand bloody battle field they
proved themselves to be men of no COM
mon mold, and in the Spanish American
war 1T was discovered that When you mix
the blue and the gray it produces red,
white and blue that wont run or fade,
1t is ours to preserve the inhepitance
they left of noble purpose and lofty aim.
We stand among the nations for the
square deal for every man." For protec-
ton of the week and helpless, recognizing
no favored class nor race. A nation con-
ceived and born in liberty we are, and
while there is one who is oppressed or one
wrong not righted our arms shall not be
laid down but we will shoot and shoot to
II kill.
II We are rich nation, but our wealth is
the wealth of men rather than of money.
Great we are in material courses, but
greater in men of noble character, honest
men, pure men, true men. Woe to the land
When 1t can be said that every man has
his price," Personal morality lies at the
bottom of our greatness, the vices of the
people alone can overthrow our govern
n1ent' not by public spectaculator reforms
pul by private regeneration can our liber-
ties be maintaines and our nation pros
pered.
The home life is the foundation of char
acter, virtue, truth and purity, to the home
there are two handmaids; the church
and the school. Only by living practical
INSTANTLY can virtue, morality, and the
purity of the home be preserved. Pop
ular education also is essential. Vice and
. ignorance go hand in hand. We need not
, less of Academic schools and training, but
more, many more Misunderstanding schools
for our FIXTURE citizens,
II Our national prosperity demands the
, preservation of the Christian Sabbath as a
holy day instead of holiday as so many
now regard it. The sacredness too of the
marriage bond must be kept or our ma
, ton will rot down in it's corruption, and
the same may be said concerning the
brastly life of drunkenness and the like.
, Our public service needs our ate ntion
too often the public domain and treasury
is regarded as a legitimate field for plum.
der. The political "machine" controlled
, by the boss" shall be treated as viper as
indeed 1t is.
There is now being Matched and reared
, in the bosom of the Rocky mountains a
serpent, that expects in the not distant
future, by holding the balance of political
power in the nation to stay the progress
of truth and right. 1t seeks to turn us
] backward into the dark night of ages
when Abraham and David and Solomon
lived, to bring upon our fair America tie
+ beastly RIGHTEOUSNESS of heathendon.
] speak of that Politico. Religious orgoniza
f ton called the Mormon church.
Religion and patriotism are vital and
: every man has a personal responsibility,
in maintaining them.
The church and the state are wisely sep
' crate but each in it's own sphere calls TO
9 our allegiance and service. Every true
Christian is patriot. A living vita
Christianity lies at the foundation of tn,
: state where truth and justice shall reign
The value of the state in it's ultimate anal
g ysis is found to be in the worth of the in
, dividual citizen. This cannot be meas
ured by money values, or by his blood
: or by the color of his skin, but by charac
J, ter alone. White OF black or red or yellow
To speak or think of race as superior O
inferior is outrage to the principles of on
!. popular government. Personal qualitics
3 lions only are TO be reckoned. Ever
:, man who stands for truth and purity an
4 right counts. They only are of value t.
!. the state who give honest and unselfis
] service. The sacrifices of peace must b
made no less than the sacrifices of wa,
Our times demand more than passive vii
2 tue, we need active aggressive men not t
die but to live for our country. Withou
e thought of gain to themselves, to stan
u for the right and the true in the admin.
$ tration of public affairs and in the domai
of private morals. Our worst enemies ar
the careless and Indifferent ones who's
chief regard is their own selfish int rest
They parasites the body politi.
oilers and corrupters of our youthful