The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-07-02

present, perhaps the largest ever as
sembled, and the actor during and aft
er the reading was cheered again and
again
Forest esteemed the Declaration of
Independence as the best single piece
Of composition In existence, valuing 1t
even above his beloved Shakespeare.
Two years after the first Fourth Of
July, there occurred celebration in
Independence square that had a spe-
cial significance. The advance Of the
British, and their occupation of Phil
adelphia during the winter Of TIT
ITS, had forced congress to leave the
Quaker city and go to York.
After the evacuation congress re.
turned July and grand celebration
OF the recurrence of the PRONUNCIATION
OF the declaration was held, in which
nearly the entire population of Phila-
delphia Joined. Chevalier Conrad AL
exander Gerard Of France, the first
minister ever accredited to the United
States from any power, was an inter.
ested spectator.
During the centennial In Philadel-
phia there was naturally notable
demonstration, and no less a person
than Don Pedro, emperor OF Brazil,
sat among those who cheered the sen.
timents that had sounded the downfall
of monarchy in this country, and were
finally to take his throne from the
ruler of Brazil.
In later years, another representa-
tive OF foreign country was the CEN
trail figure at independence square.
WI Ting Fang, Chinese minister,
spoke there with fine eloquence, and
made one Of the best speeches cred
tied to him in his many felicitous utter.
ances in this country.
The anomaly that he was the enyoy
OF one Of the most absolute of mon.
arches did not prevent the celestial
from painting in most graphic phrase
what the venerable building stood for
| During his first administration
Grover Cleveland. president of the
| United States, came to PHILADELPHIA
one Fourth Of July and. standing ON a
platform raised on the square an.
pealed to the young manhood of Amer.
lea that the great lessons of 1776 he
not ignored.
Samuel j. Randall, Judge Kelley
Gen. Grant, Lewis Cassidy have also
Inquired prominently in Fourth of July
celebrations there.
During the administration OF Mayor
warwick, himself an orator OF genuine
gifts, every year was made the oc
casion of notable demonstrations tc
which were invited men of nationa'
fame.
Under the direction of the goverro,
OF Pennsylvania a work of incaIcrIahIe
interest has been finished at Vale,
Forge park by the state.
valley Forge has a close relation
ship with independence day. and m,
OLD camp site has proved a Mecca n,
July to thousands of Americans uh,
come from all over the union IN ma,
tribute to the fathers of the Unite,
states who suffered and died on mi
historic spot. Practically the entir
site mas been reserved. A chane
mas been erected on the SPOT wher,
Washington was discovered at nrava,
At the moment Valley Forge narl
comprises about IT'S acres II :,
properly policed and cared for h,
workmen, whose duty It is to keen a.
roads and the entire park in perfec
order.
Public interest has kept pace wifi
the work. On Memorial day son NO,
sons registered at the headouarter,
and this is probably not one.fourth =
those who were in the park.
Anywhere from 5000 to 10 900 Anne
leans VIII tittingly celebrate july
1908, by going over the ground n
which their heroic foretathers unde
went the sufferings that made ind,
pendence possible.