Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-07-09

Torrance, which required many
weeks of rehearsing by high class
professional performers. 1t was due
to the courtesy of the Selig Poly
scope Co., also, that we are indebted
for the treat OF listening to the
silver tones OF Mrs. Stedman, who
is a member of this talented COM
pany."
Mr.. Norris then introduced the
Hon. ]. E. Jones of Flagstaff in
few we'll chosen words advising
his auditors that Mr.. Jones "was
only nominally of Flagstaff, since
his splendid public services had
made them all feel that he was
really of all Northern Arizona"
Mr.. Jones was greeted with a
warm round of applause and held
the interest of his vast audience for
more than half an hour as he re-
viewed with force and eloquence the
many things that made men proud
to call themselves Americans and
particularly to let the world know
that they were citizens of Arizona,
one of the latest and greatest of
the sisterhood of the States. Among
other things, he said:
The Grafton.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies, Gentlemen.
and Fellow Citizens of Yavapal
County, and the great State of Ari-
iona, it affords me unlimited pleasure
in having the honor of addressing
this large, appreciative and intelli-
gent audience. l want to con-
graduate the people of Prescott upon
your elegant homes, your beautiful
scenery, your pine clad hills, your
fine cornet band, your well finished
streets, and upon your many other
environments which add to your
comfort and pleasure. But above
and beyond all, | wish to congratu-
late you upon your excellent citi-
zenship, your devotion and patriot
ism. and for your untiring efforts
made in decorating, identifying, and
doing everything you could to
make this occasion one OF JOY and
pleasure for your guests, who have
come to the Mile High city to join
you in celebrating this. and making
it one of the most glorious days in
the history of your lovely and
beautiful city.
One hundred and thirty-seven
years ago today we declared our
selves a free and independent ma
ton of people, and it is in accord
ance with that grand declaration
that we as citizens, as neighbors,
written in the history of any Nation
and as friends, come here to do
homage to the grandest day ever
in Gods creation.
Heroes of Colonial Days.
Today we roll back the curtain
of time for 137 years. And as we
look down the dim vista of the
past, we behold trooping down the
aisle of destiny. the mighty army
of tyrants on one side arrayed
against a few poor and almost de-
fenseless men on the other. 1t was
then that Great Britain. with her
powerful forces, her despotic rule,
and her tyranical oppression, was
seeking to suck from the American
people their liberties, their rights,
their homes, and everything that was
near and dear TO them. When the
King of despotism had placed his
seal of woe upon the Puritan
fathers, when he had endeavored TO
prevent the further population of
the thirteen original States, and had
hampered justice in her throne by
his unjust acts; when he had usurped
the rights of the people, and waged
war upon them; when repeated
wrongs could find no redress, when
ruling despots were trying to over
ride justice, and take from Amer
leans all hopes of their birthright,
when the citizens of that little, weak,
struggling colony of only thirteen
States, with its population of less
than $4,000 souls were endeavoring
TO plant on American soil a home
for themselves and their families;
when they were endeavoring to get
from under the unjust laws and
rulings of the great King; when
their laws were being disregarded,
their country invaded by armed men.
cruelty and unjust treatment could
De no longer DOrHe, the AHleIlCdll
people seized their muskets and
fought like Trojans, and planted on
American soil what is today the
greatest, strongest and mightiest
Republic on earth.
Birth of Great Republic.
The historic period in which they
lived is one of the most wonderful
written in the history of nations.
History records that momentous
conflict when men with eyes that
never closed, and bodies that never
rested, stood like great and mighty
giants, thrusting, fighting and con-
tending for the eternal principles
of justice and liberty until the light
of victory broke, and the glad
tidings were heralded forth that
America was free 1t was then that
the grand old bell. as she hung in
Liberty's Hall in Philadelphia, rang
forth her peals of freedom. Its
sounds were caught and echoed,
and re-echoed from voice to voice
until every Americans breast beat
,,,,+t, 49, TIKI i,,I I,J Haa, .-,,e