"When our republic was formed, the wisdom of its founders manifested
itself in many ways. One in particular strikes us very forcibly in
contrast with our sister republics in Europe and even on this
continent. We have no legacy of royalty, no legacy of hereditary or
titled aristocracy that forever menace, and threaten the peace and
stability of other republics; the highest office in the gift of the
people becomes the servant of the people, hence we have the stability
of a government founded by the people, of the people, and for the
people, and although some thirty odd years ago the aristocracy of
Europe tried hard to destroy our republic, we are today stronger than
ever, a united country of sixty-five millions of people, whose
stalwart yeomen from Maine to Oregon and from the Lakes to the Gulf,
are ready and willing to take the field at a moment's warning, against
any foreign enemy whose temerity might prompt them to attack Old
Glory.
"I speak advisedly when I say this for the war of the rebellion was
not confined, strictly speaking, to the people of the north and the
people of the south alone; the people of the north were fighting, not
only to maintain the unity and integrity of the United States, but,
much like the war of the revolution, they had to contend against
foreign foes in the moral and substantial aid given by France and
England to the south in its strenuous efforts to disrupt the unity of
the country founded by our forefathers, they (of the north) were
contending against the intrigue of the emperor of the French, whose
hostile armies had invaded the soil of our sister republic south of
the Rio Grande, for the purpose of establishing a monarchy in that
country, and blighting it with the titled and depraved aristocracy of
the French empire, as it then existed.
"We have ample proof to warrant the statement, that had the south been
successful in establishing a separate form of government, it was the
purpose of the French emperor to seize Louisiana, Texas and New
Mexico, and together with the aristocracy of England, to destroy the
so-called Southern Confederacy and thus, at one swoop, wipe out a
nation they were ostensibly trying to establish; for under the
contingent conditions mentioned, England's policy was to seize
Virginia, the Carolinas and other southern states bordering on the
Atlantic. To the everlasting credit of the masses of the English and
the French people be it said, that they had not part in, or sympathy
with, the efforts of the few political demagogues of the nations
mentioned in their efforts to aid in the destruction of this beautiful
country of ours, the most free and independent on the face of the
globe.
"My friends, from the very earliest period of American history the log
cabin has been the cradle of our greatest men. Lincoln, Grant and a
host of others began life in a log cabin. Our churches and our school
houses, the bulwarks of our nation's strength and greatness, began to
shoot out their branches of education from the 'little old log cabin.'
The magnitude of this great country is like the rough gem in the hands
of the lapidary. He takes no credit for its possession, but he does
take credit for what skill he may exercise in making it beautiful and
more valuable. So with the American people, it is left to them to so
exercise their skill, mentally and physically, in improving and
beautifying the gem that has so generously been bestowed upon them by
the Great Creator, that its lustre and brilliancy may shed its light
of freedom and intelligence over every quarter of the globe.
"Out here in California the pioneers work has only commenced, thanks
to the patient, enduring, uncomplaining and vigorous work of our
little army, the way has been cleared of the relentless foe of the
white man, barbarism lies buried beneath the blood-stained graves of
many a brave heart that wore the honored blue of Uncle Sam's (pioneer)
soldiers, then follows the sturdy citizen pioneer, as exemplified here
today, where our worthy host and hostess have so successfully improved
and beautified this rough gem of the Sierras following out the
traditions of the American nation, by the erection of that particular
mark of American thrift and enterprise, this little log cabin that
crowns the 'Acropolis' and in which today we joyfully celebrate the
nativity of our republic."
The oration was followed with Vive l'America, sung by the writer,
accompanied by Mrs. W.S. Goodfellow. Dedication of the cabin followed.
The whole performance closed with the Star Spangled Banner sung by the
writer, the guests all joining in the chorus. After the ceremony we
adjourned to the dining hall. By the time the banquet was over night
was approaching and shortly after the evening exercises began. The
young men had cut down a pine tree and split the logs. The boys and
girls had gathered sacks of pine cones, stacking these pine sticks
over the cones, and it looked as though we were making a defense. All
the guests were assembled on the porches of their cabins and at the
log cabin and as soon as darkness came these cones were lighted and
fire crackers, pin wheels, rockets and red light flashed forth, a
never-to-be-forgotten sight of lights and shadows. The tall pines rose
in the background like dark sentinels guarding the happy spirits in
their nightly revels. It was after ten o'clock when the last shower of
rockets went up and lighted the heavens with the beautiful gold and
silver showers, a befitting close for such an eventful day of
enjoyment.