The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-07-09

times CROPPED but they have never los
sight OF the pole star of duty, steer
ing always toward the light and al
ways leading on to higher and bette
things. We cannot and must not for
get the fact that the people of Idah,
have always been the embodiment o
the spirit of progress. 1t is spiri
that has always led us on to shinina
heights in the realms of achievement
There is a great good accom-
plished by celebrating the Fourth OF
July-by commemorating 1ndepend.
ence Day-once every year. Exer-
cises such as these and sentiments
which are invariably uttered by
speakers upon such an occasion, bark
the people back to the principle up-
on which our government was found
LED and upon which it relies for it's
strength today. 1t is almost neces-
sary that we stop in the midst of our
commercial, Industrial and political
strife, and remember that the United
states OF America was brought into
1 being In order that all men may be
free and equar---in order that each
Individual may be civilly independ-
lent.
There We're but two great writ
ings prior to the nineteenth century
which recognizes the absolute equal
lity In government Of all men, /
have named those two; they are the
Declaration of independence and the
constitution. The articles of confed-
Grafton, formed in HTS, and under
which the revolutionary war was
fought, made a mere league between
the states and limited their privileges
for war purposes. 1t is often cited
IS one Of the great documents of per-
so-si liberty, but that Is a mistake.
The principle that the people stood
for was set forth In the Declaration
or independence and was made the
everlasting foundation of our govern
ment by the adoption OF our consti-
tuition In 1887. These two documents
are the instruments that will always
be looked upon as the greatest and
grandest in favor of personal liberty |
il. English history points with pride
to the Magma Charta, or Great Char
ter. wrested from the unwilling hands
OF King John, as the first Of all dec
larations of equality amog men. But I
that very paper recognizes the fact
that some We're rulers and others
were yassals. 1t remained for the
daring pioneers of the American con
who were not afraid to seek
their futures and their fortunes in
an unsettled and undeveloped land,
to voice the great principle of indie
pendence for the first time.
For one hundred and twenty-five
years the constitution has stood the
test of three foreign wars and has
gone through civil strife and varying
periods of expansion. Every people
looking for freedom the world over
lave taken our constitution as mod
d. France follows us, Mexico fol-
ows us, Switzerland follows us, the
south American republics follow us,
Panama follows us. With the eyes
u all nations upon us, let US rise
ip to the full height of the nobility
II citizenship in such republic.
We OF the west preserve that spir-
t OF liberty in its original fervor. |.
Ne have come here because we are
reer to forge ahead, unhampered
~ narrow traditions and congested I.
Copes for action
So long as the individual--so long I
IS every citizen--takes an interest ,
n government and performs his part,
ur American republic is safe. 1t
5ill only be when the individual neg
ects his privileges that danger will
ONE. The republics and empires 4
hat have fallen in the past, and are
oW remembered only as wrecks, fell
ecause OF a lack of general support
y the people. The words of lincoln
hat our nation was of the people, by I
he people, and for the people, are t.
orrect. II we come to time when
few persons shall control our coun- T
ry and direct its legislation, an end
0 this republic will be near. do
OF believe we shall ever approach
UGH catastrophe, but it is we'll that
e should keep away from any in
lination toward that end. It is well
hat we be on our guard and protect
all times that cardinal principle
nat our forefathers set forth In the y
ecalratlon OF Independence.
The Progress OF the Nation
On July 4, 1876, the Declaration of +
dependence of the United States
as signed. Within few days there
fter, our constitution was adopted
y those states originally composing
lie nation. Over one hundred and
yenty years have elapsed since its
1option, and we have only made fif-
zen changes in that sacred instru-
tent. 1t is the greatest, grandest
nd plainest statement of human
ghts that has ever been made by :
an. 1t was the seed of human liber-
:, planted by honest, intelligent and .
bright men who builded better than Z
ley knew. The immortal Washing =
IN, factor of our country, in war :
I'D in peace guided the ship of state Z
.fely through the breakers of tenn :