The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-07-10
JOHN D. ATKINSON'S GRAFTON
Speech of Hon. John D. Atkinson Delivered
at Leavenworth on July 4th


in the annals OF our country. There
has been no other time in the history
of men when such mighty forces have
concentrated with such powerful effect
for the improvement of the conditions
Of the masses of the people in our own
country especially and in other coun-
tries in general.
Science, instead of exhausting its
limits of power and progress is seem
ingly only on the frontier OF a wonder
full development, for in line with the
prophecies, it would seem there are
still greater things to be disclosed in
the heavens and earth, than of which
man ever dreamed. There are every
year appearing new marvels in chem
istry, mechanics, electricity, medicine,
geology, astronomy, and in other
realms of natural force. Half a cen
tury ago, and much less, the wonders of
the telephone, the phonograph, wire
less telegraphy, the automobile, aerial
navigation, and the noiseless gun,
would have been called impossibilitieS
or only the suggestions of demented
minds.
Now many intelligent men predict
the probability that the seemingly
inorganic elements OF water, air and
earth, will in the future, by direct
preparation provide US with foods now
obtained only by organic growth; and
it is likewise seriously presumed that
in the not distant future our great fuel,
heat and power supply will come by
direct extraction from the fires Of the
earth, and especially by the direct
harnessing of the great electro-mag-
netic currents which vibrate with ter
| rife force north and south, from pole
to pole, with the perpetual revolution
of this planet. And there are still
other astounding material things to
come to pass. When we advance to
these degrees OF intelligence, there
I will not likely be any more suffering
from cold and famine in any part OF
the world, nor any respondent man,
nor pinched and hungry unhappy
women and children.
Along with the prodigious strides OF
science and invention the principles of
sociology, laws and affairs of the gov
eminent of men, are most assuredly
gaining ground in every town county
and state in this union, as well as in
all other countries up and down the
continents. The doctrines OF equality,
brotherhood of men and the golden rule
standard are now the grandest con-
certed program ofDthe real nobleman
of every country. 1t is the order of
the modern age that oppression, ar
rogance and cruelty from man to man
must be swept from civilized life, more
or less swiftly, both by general educa-
ton and enlightened legislation.
In the great drama of our country's
present action, the inquiry should
come to every man, what is our present
duty? What can we do to help our
country and our fellowmen? We
may emulate the brave sand noble
deeds of our forefathers. We may
rejoice that more than a hundred years
ago they founded for US a government
based on liberty to all good men, the
superbest of all history. In this land
of Columbus they established gov
eminent which should teach all men
as in a great school, the correct roads
to civilization, and the mightiest
achievements of republican forms of
government.
There is nothing too eloquent TO
proclaim of our illustrious ancestors
and of the sovereign prominence OF
our own United States. In the words
of the poet, we may rejoice in the
thought that I'VE love every inch of
her prairies, each stone of her noun
tain side. We love every drop OF the
waters clean that flow down her rivers
wide. We love every tree, every
blade of grass within Columbia's gates:
the Queen of the earth is this land of
our birth-Our own United States"
But our real present duty is to