Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1908-07-08
THOUSAND Us HEAR
 ELOQUENT HENRY AsHURST
LITERARY ExERC1sEs BIO TEA TURF or THE NATAL
 DAY.


 visitors who assembled at the plaza, the literary exercises held yesterday morning in celebration of the Fourth of July were unusually mcritorious. Long before the hour given as the time for tho speeches, the bandstand was sur. rounded by nearly one thousand people, who waited with commendable pa. tience for the arrival of the band, which announced the opening of the exercises.
 Noticcably diversified was the crowd which listened to tae program at the plaza. Men, women and children gath. cred together from surrounding mining towns and n large majority of the local citizens mingled in the tbrong. Chil. dren were much in evidence nnd their behavior cxemplifed the principle of early instilling in the young mind the spirit of patriotism. Little lads, dirty of face, typical ragamufiins of the streets. pushed their way close up to the bnndstand and during tae progress of the exercises stood with upturned faces, listening quietly to the addresses. the meaning of which their minds could only grasp at, yet comprehensive of the meaning of the occnsion. which they were to celebrate with frecrackcrs and other noisy means.
 Col. !. F. Wilson, chairman of the literary committee, presided at the ex. crcises and introduced tnosc taking part. His few words were appropriate to the occasion and delivered with dis. tinct iutonation which carried them out into the throng.
 Mrs. n. T. Southworth read the De. claration of Independence and her con- tribution to the program clicitcd much praiscworthy comment. Speaking in the open is difficult even for a man whose oratorical prowess is enhanced by . strong. clear voice, but it is seldom that woman speaking under such con di,ions can do herself credit. Mrs Southworth, however, possesses n voice admirably adapted for outdoor use and so clear was hcr elocution that she wal distinctly heard by every one in th' large assemblagc. Another fact whici made Mrs. Southwor,h' delivery on' of interes, was that she had memorizec the Declaration of Independence.
 Following the reading. Col. Wilson introduced the Hon. Henry r. Asnurs of Coconino county, who made the ad dress of the occasion. In his diseanta tion upon the Declaration of Indepen dcncc, Mir. Ashurst said in part, "Th City of Prescott is noted throughou the west as city of progress, of mag naminity and of princely gcnerosi,, In pioneer days i, was the headquarters of the bravest men who ever carcercd Q field of glory--the old ilassaynn
 pers." He spoke praisingiy of thes men who made Arizona and helped
 make history and paid special tribu' . to Buckey O'Ncill. the brave eitize who was among the frs, to fall in th Spanish. American war.
 b Continuing he said. 'We shoul , make this day not only holiday b, , holy day as well. More than a eel , tury and quarter ago the great doe' ment just so splendidly read by NIT Southworth, was given to us hy the col
 tiucnta congress. The original pare
 mcnt is faded and almost il!cgiblc. b, U it's spri, comes down to us untarnish, n and lives and breathcs today m q q heart of every patriotic spirit r. Mir. Ashurst then told in realist { manner, descriptive and vivid langual . the story of the signing of the Deela f. ation of Independence; of the eaus .. which lead up to the rcvolutional war; of the brave struggle made
 the graet men of that time in their [
 forts tO throw oii the yoke of En e land x oppression. He told briefly SC d era interesting incidents and narrativ Is of those early days of strife ana pa d a tribute to the old Colonial eitize d whose patriotism and courageous spii <. won us our freedom and independent 2 He made particular mention of ma
 of the neros of the Revolutionary VI
 In speaking of today and of " evergrowing greatness of our count '' MT. Ashurst commended strongly q
 present form of government and c le present administration. Roosevelt nr his fearless pursuit of n course whi ,d he believes to be right and for ,s good of the populaee individually a ?, in general, he likened Co Washingi
 and Andrew Jackson.
 " Concluding, the speaker said; "l 's no man fear for the future of this
 public; its destiny is now secure, a
 has been secure since the patriot li' mics lay in camp on the banks of es frozen Delaware This nation V tn easily and proudly triumpo over pre- ar tory wealth and the cffu'gont dream "a, socialism as well and Is destined
 live on the grandest complication
 human freedom this world shall Q
 know.
 "We have reached n happy time er the life of this nation, for we have