Gilpin observer., 1906-05-31

ed,
For softness, SHE, and sweet attractive
grace;
Grace was in all her steps, heav'n in her
eye;
In every gesture, dignity and love.
A thousand decencies increasing filow'd
From all her words and actions.
Mkt with-mild compliance"
The men did tho fighting, but each
letter, each package containg some little
dainties, told the story of the sacrifice Of
mother or of a wife; it was the blood
of the men that was shed but the hands
Of the women stopped Its flow.
Her accomplishments have determined
her destiny. We hear much OF govern
ments and constitutions, OF secession
then Civil war, but governments and
constitutions were not formed, nor are
Civil wars waged for themselves. but for
som ething better and of that something
better you form the better part-I mean
society.
II this flag could but speak it could
tell OF as much suffering, of as much pri-
walton among those who stayed at home
to furnish the necessities of life as it
tells of the dangers on the battle-felds.
Emblem OF our Nation-fewer stripes
you have never known, but we have ad-
ded many stars in your field of blue,
since first you came among US; some OF
your stars have waned it is true, and at
one time almost fiickered out but to day
they seem to shine all the more brightly,
for having once been dim: the walls OF
Pekin have known OF your irresistible
might; you have heard the cries OF the
oppressed from Cuba to tie Philippines:
but not alone in war are you 80 we'll
known, but likewise in peace; the settle
ment OF the recent Russian-Japanese
conflict which promised nothing but de-
struction, was accomplished because you
drew near. You we're the first to avenge
the death OF our immortal Lincoln, when
none Others were near you caught the
heel OF the assassin and hurled him to
the floor. Little wonder we treasure
you so dearly.
Westward the course of Empire takes
its way:
The first four acts already past,
A fifth shall close the drama with the
day,
Times Doolest offspring is the last"
Fellow Citizens-The completion OF
that last act rests with US. That sacred
trust has descended into our hands; it is
ours to guard and ours to cherish We
enjoy not only an inheritance of liberty,
we enjoy an inheritance of American
Liberty. Greece once boasted OF
Grecian Liberty-a liberty that was bold,
powerful, producing many great and ell
oquent men, great warriors, wise COVER
nors, marvellous thinkers: and yet Greece
was but name given to leagus among
several states; among them we might
mention Athens, Sparta and Thebes; OF
these the power of Sparta was matched
ag ainst that Of Athens and Athens fell
and Sparta in her turn was overthrown
by Thebes. We find there no union, for
had there been Philip Of Macedon would
never have united Greece to his Kingdom
of Macedonia. We rea d Of a Roman lib
erty but you may stand on one OF the
seven hill upon which ancient Rome was
built, and view the grounds where the
consuls celebrated their triumphs, where
their successors erected villas, and their
posterity have erected converts, and you
will see the extent of Roman liberty.
Gaul, Britain, Spain and Germany en-
ioyed only the liberty OF filling the COT
fers OF Rome, and thus to assist in her
decline, and when she fell, the provinces,
untaught in the principles Of free gov
ernment but rather enslaved by the
Roman Eagle, also fell. What then is
this our American Liberty of which we
are so proud and under which We have
become so prosperous. First l must
mention the American spirit Of indie.
pendence. Our foreiathers have set US
the example; the state has given us the
opportunity of an institution where we
may learn the secrets OF self government.
How we have protited by this spirit Of
independence and by our opportunity to
learn these secrets OF self government,
we have but to look to the early history
OF California and to that Of our own
state Of Colorado. In those early days
these states were so far removed from
the central government and its influence
for law and order, that we might expect
each man to be law unto himself But
what do we find? The great majority Of
the early settlers had come fully pre-.
pared to respect the rights of others in
return for the protection OF their rights;