The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-05

came after him are pikers beside him, Is proven by the sentiments expressed by him at the big celebration held in Seaside Park upon the tooth ann1ver- sary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That was the day of days in Bridgeport. and to glance over the array of names connected with that celebration is enough to make every old time Bridgep0rter won der if the calibre of today'sS big men Is as large as that of the big men who laid the foundation for the town:
 There is hardly thing that the lo- cal prophets are not forecastlng TOT Bridgeport that Barnum did not fore cast in this Seaside Park speech 34 years ago. He expressed real confi- dence in the sovereignty of the Amer ican voter and said that within 100 years RAILROADS. EXPRESS. TELEGRAPH, STEAMBOAT and GAS COMPANIES WITH WATERED STOCK WOULD CEASE THEIR FIX PORTIONS The great snowman also foresaw the coming of the one hour railroad trip to New York for a dollar and the future of Black Rock harbor.
 One can more readily appreciate the keen mind of the ex-showman by reading the speech. He was 66 years of age when he made it and 1t shows that he had ideals which refute the opinion of many of his time that he lived ito humbug the people" The speech follows:
 MT President-The ceremonies of this great centennial are so lengthy that luckily for your audience my time is limited to eight or ten minutes.
 Thirty-three years ago visited Eng land for the first time. At dinner in Liverpool on the day landed. an aged English clergyman sitting at my side, upon learning that I was an Ameri- can. started a conversation concerning the new country of which I was a citizen
 At best it is but an experiment. he said. "and the short space of 67 years that it has been in existence is no proof of its stability. The evil dence of experience is that republics have their brif stay and then pass away. while monarchies endure Such language is common in foreign cOun tries. Indeed. our forefathers looked upon self government as partially an experiment, and in our present day. when we are startled by instances of dishonesty. corruption and gross injuS- tice in high places, some good men al- most despair of the republic. and say we must have stronger government As If any government could be strong CT than a government of the people, by the people and for the people, pro- vided the people are intelligent, con ecfentfous and moral
 II have lived about two-thirds of the last century, and have witnessed Infinitely more injustice to the masses under nonarchial governments than we have ever dreamed of here: and these evils the subjects of royalty had no power to remedy. whereas in Repub- lican America. the people, the voters, the real sovereigns. who in the aggre- power to overthrow corruption and wrong-doing at every election.
 Ignorance is most to be feared in a republic If we have compulsory ed- ucation. we are safe, provided that education includes a thorough study of morals. When men are taught to be honest, not only because it is right, but also because. here on earth in our daily. life honesty is (always) the best policy that no man can government without at the same mo- ment wronging and cheating himself more that intem perance, extrava- gance, or excess in any form always contain within themselves the ele- ments of failure, sorrow and disap- pointment; that goodness justice and right always, on the contrary, pro- duce good results: when the schools, the pulpits and the press teach these doctrines. acquainting men with the laws of the universe and of their own nature, and the importance of observing these laws, (and this is being done more and more every day) then the republican form of govern ment becomes the most stable, as it certainly is the most beneficent ever attempted Then we learn and prac- tice the great doctrine of universal brotherhood" and learn that no in- jury can be inflicted upon the great body polite without injuring every individual member thereof. If our nation is imbued with such princi- pies 1t will strive as one man to up- hold. elevate, purify, and perpetuate rar tr-rrlx frr1n in
 No nation in the world has ever made such material progress in a single century as ours, and we are still marching on" with irresistible force Let us look to it that the nor al and the intellectual advancement shall go hand in hand with the ma terial. There in rest our peace and safety as nation, and therein hang the hopes and happiness of a world suffering under kingly rule which necessarily pampers and aggrandizes the royal family, the court and the titled aristocracy, while it degrades and debases the subjects, whose toll and sweat supply the public treas ury.
 The great American heart beats today in unison with these senti- ments.s for, notwithstanding each po- litical party has been cursed with thieves and swindlers, we hail with hope and joy the fact that the mass es. the rank and file. the bone and sinew. parties demand reform and honest government With such a public sentiment, ''the voice of the people, in indeed 'the voice of God"
 old England owes half of her sta- bility to the innate love of country which pervades the breasts of her people. Rome flourished only so long as its masses glorified in say ing. "I am a Roman citizeni"
 To be an American citizen with such purity of government and loft iness of sentiment as this nation is capable of maintaining. is to enjoy the most enviable position under heaven. We cannot prize this bless ing too highly
 If our material progress during the last century has been unexampled, let us remember that no effect can be produced without a cause; hence, IT the nation is to prosper every 1nd1- vidual in that nation can aid that prosperity by personal efforts. Our beautiful Bridgeport has made rapid strides in 30 years. If we all work hand in hand like a band of brothers devoted to the development of our immense natural resources, this love Iy city of which we are so justly proud, will rapidly exhibit a progress and popularity to which the past will bear no comparison
 Usually, on celebrating a holiday, we anticipate the pleasure on being present at the next anniversary. But