Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-07-10
FOURTH OF July
CONTINUED from First Page)

the day of the landing oil tne nIIie
colony at Plymouth Rock up and until
July 4th, 1776, and had acquired prac-
tically nothing. The lands were still
held in the name of the King, The
ROYAL Family, Dukes and Lords OF
England. A short time prior to July
4th, 1776, the people assembled IN
their log churches, groves and school
houses and resolved that they were
going to be free and they believed
that God was with them in their
fight. They elected to the Continent
al Congress their best men and they
were instructed what to do, and never
in the history of the world dld men
carry out their instructions better
than they did, This people after the
singing of the Declaration of lnde-
pendance, entered upon war WIN
with the mother country. The ques-
ton was discussed How are we 60
ing to fight. We have no money or
credit" We had no great ships to
sail the briny deep. In short time
the flower OF the British Army were
landed on our shores with money and
While we were not recognized by any
country in the world. We were look
ed upon as traitors. can see the
old farmer now as he takes down the
gun from over the door in the little
log cabin in the wilderness. | can
see him as he buckles on his armor.
| can see the wife as she packs the
little bundle of clothes. The wife
and children are given parting kiss.
A prayer is said, for in those days
a prayer meant something. He is
gone, wife and children left with
practically nothing. The next morn
ing | can see the wife out in the
wilderness behind the oxen doing the
work of a man and for seven long
years she continued to do it and per-
maps father came back and new
government was recognized by the
governments of the world.
| know of no place i'll Ohio where
it would be more appropriate to cele-
brate than upon the very spot where
we now stand. This soil has been
made sacred by the baptism of the
blood of American heroes. England
was not satisfied with the licking we
gave them in 1776, so we were COM
PEELED to drive them from our shores
in 1912. At that time this part OF
the country was an almost unbroken
wilderness. The British were coming
from Canada. We had no soldiers
within $50 miles of this place. No
roads and an unbroken wilderness.
They did not have men enough to
fight us themselves but they had the
Indians and we were compelled to
fight them. Fort Meigs a little more
than one-half mile of where we now
stand was built. Col. Dudley from
Kentucky came with his command,
also troops from Pennsylvania and
Virginia. A battle was fought across
the river. We all know the result.
Victories were written on our banner
and this part of the country saved
to the Republic. In September we
will meet at Fort Meigs to unveil a
monument over so feet high in COM
meration of the fact that brave men
are sleeping here. Men who left
their pioneer homes and firesides and
gave their lives that this Republic
might live and on account of their
deeds We assemble here to do them
honor.
This day should live. We should
teach our children to love their
home, their country and their God.
A people that loves their home, their
country and their God will live for
ever. The people of the old world
for over 100 years have said and
written that no republic could live for |
the reason that the power was vest |
ed in the people, while in the old |
country, the power is vested in the |
throne. We have proven that the |
people can be trusted. We have not |
betrayed the truth on our part and |
with the help of God we will try |
to keep the faith. Whenever we see |
a dark cloud in the heavens we notice |
it. l see one now but | believe we |
are strong enough and brave enough |
to overcome it. This cloud is called |
"Commercialifm." l am sorry to say
that business is not done at the
They were honest. The majority of |
the people of this country are honest l.
today but certain class of men have
become money mad and have organiz-
ed themselves into what they call
trust in order to control the price
of almost every commodity. The only
thing that is free from their grasp is
salvation and that is beyond their
control. The little dress that you'd
wore when you first came into this
world you pay them tribute for-the
coffin, the last resting place you pay
tribute for that. Not question of
a fair profit but how much can they
compel the people to pay. The peo-
pie of this country must rise in their
and punish and crush these
combinations We must all
you Democrats, you Republicans,
you Prohibitionists, and restore our
country to the old fashioned way of
doing business. "Do unto others as
you would have others do unto you"
Thanking you for your kind atten-
tion, will say in conclusion, that my
hest wishes are that you may i've
a long and happy life and when your
race is run it may be said of you as
was said of the patriots of old come
higher and dwell with me-