Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-04

ord of lofty services to our Nation.
We have come from the home of
100000 of good people to this land
of wonders, of great achievements, of
lofty ideals worthy of true men. Our
entire citizenry will turn to-day to
the West and in spirit they are here
now joining with us in the prayer,
God bless California, God bless Penn
sylvania, God bless the Union.
I'VE are far from home and yet
we are at home. Wherever free peo-
pie foregather under the Philadelphia
born flag of the Union is home for
Pennsylvanians.
Nearly a century and a half ago
the City of Philadelphia witnessed an
unusual scene. Delegates from all the
English colonies gathered to consider
the political situation then confronting
them. The Colony of Massachusetts
Bay was unwillingly under military
control. Taxes had been imposed
without assent by the parties paying
the same; Commissioners were given
unconstitutional powers, courts of ad-
miralty were empowered to try across
the sea cases of purely local char
aoter within the colonies, trial by
jury of the prisoners peers of the
vicinage was thus denied, and in gen.
eral the colonists were denied the
rights, liberties and immunities OF
free and natural born subjects within
the realm of England On September
forefathers-peacably assembled in
Carpenters Hall and formulated a IA
nous declaration of rights, appealed
to the Crown, addressed the people
and adjourned to await the develop
ment of the momentous events which
eliminated in the Declaration of INDIE
pendence. The great struggle for
frnndnnn fhn form afinn nf q fanaral
Union, the adoption of a Constitution
and the launching of a new Nation
vast experiment in popular govern
ment-upon untried seas and with no
compass save their own consciences
and an abiding trust in the Justice,
wisdom and love of Almighty God.
They succeeded We are the inheri-
of the expanding nation they so wisely
initiated. Here upon the shores Of
the peaceful sea, in the heart of a
mighty people, at an exposition COM
memorative of one of many masterful
achievements of our people, on a day
set apart to do honor to the great
State of Pennsylvania in whose first
city this nation was born, we gather
to renew our faith in a nation whose
people rule because they are free and
to pledge again and again our loyalty,
our love, our pride in that nation
whose birth was heralded by this
mute but once resonant champion of
our rights as free people-the Lib
erty Bell.
Efforts Looking Toward Union
Three definite efforts were made
by our colonial fathers to secure to
themselves life, liberty and prosperity.
In 1884, at Albany, at the suggestion
of a Pennsylvanian, delegates from
the several colonies met to form a
federation. It's purpose was to secure
concert of action in resisting trans
Atlantic enemies and in securing from
the Indians cooperation to that end.
The convention was the initial move
to secure a federal union of the colo
MES Not only was 1t conceived by a
Pennsylvania, but it was carried to
a successful issue by a Pennsylvania.
Moreover, the interpreters who con-
Quoted the negotiations with the In
dians were all Pennsylvanians-
George Croghan, of Aughwick, An
drew Montour. of Northum berland,
and Conrad Weiser. of Berks To
these men we owe the cessation of
Indian wars and the peaceful expan-
sion of the British colonies in North
America.
From this successful venture in
federation sDrang the first and the
second Continental Congresses, both
Pennsylvania welcomed and supported
movements in the formative efforts
that led to the Federal Union. It was
a union of heads that led to a union
of hearts. and the union of hearts
gave us the Union of States In all
these conferences PePnsylvania took
! a commanding part. Her sons were
wise. bravo, earnest and forceful. To
| her initiative and insight we may
Justly point with sacred pride and to
! her the nation owes a debt OF graft
tude equaled by few. surpassed by
| none.
This anniversary. of the first Con-
| tinental Congress we observe not al
Philadeluhia but here upon the west
! ern borders of nation whose growth
| and EXPANSION have no parallel in al
| the annals of men. The reason for
| this is not difficult to determine. We
| are the fortunate possessors of tht
| richest. most varied, most wonderful
| land in the world. But this gift OF
| God would mean little and count less
| If our people did not possess the
genius. the initiative. the courage to
possess II as the land Of the free
| the home Of the new man OF DESTINY
the man who. sensing things in thu
| large. resolved that equality before
| the law and democracy enliehtenet
hv LOYALTY should be his and his chill.
! dren's forever.
| One National Purnose
1 This common understanding of ouI
| national purpose is as much the creed
| Of the man Of the West as II is tina
of the man of the East Whether W,
have first seen the light OF life IL