Year: 1861

mo and see the vast and brilliant auditory


@athered here to-day, feel an almost over


lowering regret that some one is not here tc
SPEAK more worthy than / of the occasion
and, of you, your too fattering invitation has
brought me here from my home in the noun
tains-a stranger to you, bearing no illustrious
name, and scarcely known even by report be-
yond the borders of the county in which live,
to celebrate with you this great and sacred
day. For eighty-four years the American
people have welcomed the dawning of this
anniversary of their nations birthday with
every demonstration Of rejoicing and pride IN
every quiet hamlet and proud city OF America,
on the recurrence of this honored occasion, a
great people have reverently worshiped at
their country's shrine-proudiy contemplating
her marvellous past-her great present-the
unbounded promise Of her future.


This day is sacred to us, Fellow Citizens,
not only for the great event which it commem-
CRATES. but because of the associations which
cluster around it years ago amidst the loved
scenes of boyhood, in our old homes, so far
away from US noU, together with those whom
most we honor and love, YEARLY and anxioasly
waiting for some of US today who often assem-
bled on the occasion to celebrate that great
event dear to the heart of every American
boy This occasion suggests to me an Incl
dent of my early boyhood, which | recall with
gladness now Ten years ago, a jacketed
schooboy, in my native Alabama, their chosen
Orator, | spoke to my schoolmates on the
anniversary of the day. Ten years is a great
space in my life. Some of these whose happy
ruddy faces were that day upturned to me,
sleep now meath Alabama's flowry sod. The
play ground no longer rings with boyish shouts
and laughter; it is forsaken and deserted the
old school house has failed to decay the chirp
of the cricket on the desolate hearth is re.echo.
ed from its crumblng roof. But sadder far
than all this it is for me to feel that the flag
under whose blessed folds | spoke ten years
ago no longer floats over the land of my birth.
To know that the sentiments to which nv
boysh lips gave utterance then, would find no
responsive echo to day in the land where | was
born. Dearly as | love and honor my native
State fervently thank God this day, that |
have my home where the Union is loved, where
the Stars and the Stripes fondly and securely
float.


While, Fellow Citizens, it is mournful to
reflect that in certain portions of our country
this day is greeted with no rejoicing, and is
suffered TO pass unnoticed and undistinguished
above the other days of the year, we find
some consolation in the assurance which Cali
fornia gives the world this day of her venera-
tion for her countrys past, of her devotion and
undying loyalty to the Union of the States de-
clared Independent this day eighty-6ve years
ago. In every mining camp, in every busy
city throughout this wonderful young State of
ours, and all along the shores of our peaceful
ocean, patriotic people are gathered with
hearts grateful to God for their country's past,
hoping and praying for its future.


California kneels in solemn worship at the
shrine of country this day. She is the child
of the Uuion. She worships it with flial ad-
Grafton. In its early struggles she had no
share In the storms and trials, the battles
the long warfare from which the Nation
emerged, she took no part. She had no rep
resentative in Independence Hall eighty five
years ago Her name was not whispered there.
She came into the Union by the word of its
power long after its life battles had been
fought, its victories won-long after its ia
thers had passed away, their great objects full
c''ad, their fondest hopes more than realized.
| believe | may say that though California
was denied the immortal privilege of having a
part in the creation of the National Union, to
its perpetuation she pledges her every hope,
her utmost aid. For that holy purpose she
offers the recources of her valleys the gold of
her mountains, the loyal yeomen of her soil.


This is the saddest anniversary of this day
that has ever dawned upon the American peo-
pie. During the early struggle of our country
there were times, when the clouds so lowered
over its future that the patriots heart grew
weary and sick But in the darkest days of
the Revolution when despair seemed brooding
blacklist over the land, no civil feuds distracted
it. The great leader, encamped that terrible
winter with his ragged and starving soldiers
at Valley Forge had this to cheer his fainting
heart, that his countrymen were of one mind,
one heart, animated by one purpose, deter
mined to share one destiny, to be free or die.
Patriotism in those Revolutionary times was
circumscribed by no narrow State lines. The
scope of its affection encompassed the whole
country-every part of the continent where an
American had his home. The Virginian loved,
fought for the soil of Massachusetts as part Of
his country's domain.


For the first time since they have had a
country, the American people behold it divided
against itself The monster of disunion has
his borrid head aloft in the land to-day, his
poisonous breath injecting the air we breathe.
Our country hangs trembling on the verge of
ruin. Our Union stands in imminent and
utdulS p6Iil- uG hepuOIlC Is tuIcdttutu.-
The sons of fathers who shared together the
trials, dangers and glories of the Revolution
now turn their weapons on each others breasts.
Swords, consecrated by service in our great
war for liberty are stained now by brothers
blood State is armed against State Sec
ton against section. Civil war with its unut-
terable terrors, its unutterable disasters is
desolating our loved land. Peace has gathered
up her white garments and flown from our
borders. War grim visaged and inexorable,
has usurped her throne and sways his bloody
sceptre. The evil days so deprecated by the
fathers of the Republic are upon u.s. Our
country is passing through its great ordeal
Shall it live or die? That is the terrible issue
which stares us in the face this day. Merciful
God let it live Let this cap pass from US
Let not this great Republic die in its infancy
Let not the hope of the world be murdered so
young Has the great Washington lived aud
suffered IN vain? Was his life given the world
for nothing' Was the hope which cheered
his great heart when it was throbbing its last,
e cheat, delusion? Is America struggling
vainly in the throes of death? VIII her sad
fate be cited hereafter, as another instance
snd further proof of the incapacity of man
for selfgoyernment Is our country to estab-
lish as a great truth that man must choose
between Anarchy aud Despotism? Can no
patriotism, no wisdom devise a constitution on
1.-b,ob 10 raar q fabric of FREQ ranraSanta t;1a