The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-07-05
BISMARCK HONORS
Fourth AS ADAMS
FORETOLD IN 1776
Judge Christensen Opens the
Speaking by Quoting Predic-
ton Of Former President

IIetleS OF COLONIES. eocn lmbued with
- special ideal, but all animated by q
common passion for liberty which
ultimately became the bond OF union,
formed the basis Of the grafton deliy-
cred BY Governor George F. Skater
IN the speaking exercises Of the Fourth
OF July celebration Thursday after
noon on the open lot south OF the city
auditorium.
Judge A. M. Christianson presided
at the exercises, and the Turtle Lake
band, directed by j. M. Smith, fur
nished the musical numbers Of the
program. these all being national and
including America" and THE STAR
Spangled Banner"
Conditions were not particularly IA
vorable for oratory. On the outskirts
OF the crowd that gathered to hear
the talk were celebrants busy with
fireworks, and the staccato crackle of
th-,c was as a heckling applause. The
hot wind tossed up dust from time to
time, and the speaking was a contest
with noise and restlessness in the
throngs on the lot and adjoining
streets.
John Adams Predicted Holiday
Judge Christensen. in opening the
speaking, said just such celebrations
as that under way had been predicted
BY John Adams about the time the
Declaration of independence was
adopted. In a letter he wrote to q
friend he said that this day would be.
come the most noteworthy day In
American history and that in days to
come distinguished citizens would
speak Of Its glory and CT its lessons,
while children would celebrate with
fireworks. That was 153 years ago.
when the Massachusetts, statesman.
afterward second president Of the ma
ton, so accurately forecast the re.
action Of the succeeding generations
OF Americans to the great event of
July 4. l776.
Governor shafer said this was a
gathering to consider the greatest
event in political history in modern
times. as far as 1t is measured in its
influence on human welfare. Bis.
marck was gathered, he said. to take
some lessons In citizenship, with their
source in this days events 153 years
ago. when the present United States
was q land populated with 5000, 600
people. Since then five to six gen.
erstions have been born to peo-
pie the country, while millions of
others have come from foreign soils
to seek liberty and citizenship in this
republic.
Economically Great Event, Too
The Declaration of independence
voted by the continental congress
July 1. l776. he said. threw off the
sovereign power Of the colonial char
tiers which bound the Is provinces
to the British throne. The dec
laration that these colonies would
govern themselves, aloof from foreign
m~onarchial authority, was an ex-
preston Of political liberty in the
broadest sense, he said. It has come
to mean. In another sense, that as
long as this country Is able to MAIN
tain the liberty so declared this ma
ton will be industrially. commercially
ana financially free. as it became at
the moment Of its independence.
IA A0Vts Vic COAIlIllCG Cldl dllQ III
dustrial freedom achieved with the
act Of declaring independence had
a value quite as potent as the political
freedom represented in independence,
he said.
July 4. l776. he said. was the BIRTH
day Of several principles that are cx-
pressed In the spirit, the genius and
the organization of the United States.
OF these the principle Of American
union-whereby 48 states became one
nation-is the most notable, he
thought. There had been no such
thing as union in the colonial days.
Each individual was q citizen of some
colony and that colony was as a prov
ince in ITSELF. Each colony lived by
itself as q nation apart. There was
no congress, no federal unity. Because
it became necessary for the Is COL
onies to fight shoulder to shoulder,
the acquired the sense Of federal re-
lationship, expressed in the articles