|
THE seventy-fifth anniversary of our National Independence, the Fourth day of July,
1851,
was celebrated in Fort Dodge in a manner becoming patriotic citizens. On this clay the Sons of
Temperance, who at that time were represented here by a few of the officers and many of the
men then stationed at Fort Dodge, and who had an active working division, holding their
meetings in the old theater, which stood near the foot of Williams street, concluded to celebrate
their national holiday. The arrangements having been made and the invitations issued to a few
settlers then living south of the Fort, a large hospital tent, eighty-four by thirty-two, was
pitched upon the ground where DANIEL M. CROSBY'S house now stands, and a hickory flagstaff
erected seventy feet in height, where floated the stars and stripes. A beautiful repast was
furnished and spread upon tables under the tent. The morning had been hot, with many signs
of rain, and the settlers put their wagon-covers on before leaving home. Just as the exercises
were to commence, the rain came pouring down and drove them all under the tent. Here, far
from home and kindred, the soldier and the settler spent the balance of the day, in feasting
and enjoyment. And there are still with us citizens who will long remember their first Fourth of
July in Fort Dodge - that of 1851.
I know of no more appropriate way of closing this short sketch than by quoting the
following
lines from Fort Dodge's gifted poet.
All hail to the dawn of our Centennial birth,
"Glory to God and peace to men on earth,"
The chiming bells - the children' joyous cry
King o'er the land their cheering melody.
From north to south a happy people raise
Their loud hosannas and their hymns of praise.
While gentle peace enlivens every sense,
We render heartfelt thanks to Providence.
Abundant blessings everywhere have crowned
The circling seasons in their annual round-
Tile varied harvests of surpassing yield
Teeming, have blest each cultivated Held.
O'er the blue waters of tlie wide-spread seas,
Our flag of comuimerce floats on every breeze ;
Stern labor, too, with every art allied,
Have all our wants ingeniously supplied.
No more 'mid factions shall a hostile band
Imbue with filial blood our native land-
No more the galling chains of slavery
Shall crush a people destined to lie free,
But everywhere shall equal laws proclaim
A standard perfect - equal rights the same -
Real worth alone to test the righteous plan,
And elevate the dignity of man.
One and united, prosperous, great and free,
Say, who can read our future destiny?
Let each resolve on this auspicious day
To love his country and her laws obey ;
By honest means all needful ends to gain,
And reap by noble acts an honest name,
Discarding party for its aim and end,
But country ever in its stead defend ;
All, then, in time shall countless millions bless,
Their cherished homes replete with happiness.
Then 'mid our galaxy, no State more blest
Than Iowa, our own, queen of the west ;
Our gorgeous flag to gem, no star more bright,
Shall shed amid its folds a purer light.
|
