GEORGE W. BERGE, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Volume 18
Lincoln, Nebraska, July 6, 1905
Number 7
Liberty
Should Seated
Abstract of an Address Delivered at Tecumseh, July 4, by George W. Berge
This is an inspiring occasion with inspiring surroundings. This
multitude before me; this silent but most eloquent language which
Old Glory speaks while waving over our heads; this martial music
stirring the depths of our souls, awakening the sacred memories of
the past and at the same time inspiring our future hopes, all pro
claim the feeling which this day excites within us. The significance
of our National Independence Day is more far reaching 'than the
world has yet believed. Independence on American soil is not the
result of the Revolutionary .war alone.
As I look upon the stars and stripes I am reminded that their
crimson is the blood of martyrs for 1900 years. I am reminded that
'during all that time the human race has been suffering, bleeding
and dying upon the world's great battle-field. Liberty and equality
has always been the goal of mankind. Whatever else you may read
in history, this one thing has always been the fixed and steady ambi-
defended itself by. sacrificing millions of human lives upon its altars.
But my friends, the thought that makes us glad today-is that these
millions have not died in vainIIistory assures us that the right
eous cause of liberty isalWays stronger than the sordid selfishness
: of despotism. JM"could I , would proclaim this truth from every
platforj-would write it in every book; I would print it in the
..skies until every American citizen believed it, and never again
despair while the forces of greed and selfishness play about us.
We celebrate this day because we believe this to bo true. Let
us look at only one short span in history. Go back with me to the
fourteenth century. America was not yet discovered. What suffer
ing, what misery, what; a dark picture. But at that, very time the
torch of liberty was being lighted. The time had come when the
world should take a step in advance and when the chains which held
' millions in bondaffe should be broken. The curtain was drawn asido
tion of every people in every clime. Little litUcpr world,: . As we readiyw.we are
! V . - . . . - . , w- m t 1 f i" 11 111- J 1 i A " . I. ' I I JZ A.
come. . Little by little the people gained more liberty. JLittie by
little greed and selfishness lost their power.' Independence was not
attained at a single bound, but is the growth of centuries. It is
the product of the ages. The American people enjoy today the
sum total of all human achievements. If in this generation we are
faithful to our trust, American liberty will become universal and
light the dark places of all the earth, but if selfishness and greed be ., i
substituted for patriotism, and if we fritter away this blood-bought
heritage, then humanity will again be exiled into monarchy and
popular government will receive a set-back from which it will take
centuries to recover.
Perhaps at no time since the nation's birth has there been greater
need for the American people to arouse themselves than now. We
seem to be forgetting all else except the pursuit after wealth The
standard of public morals seems to be at a very low ebb. Corrup
tion in high places and a total disregard of law were never so rampant
as now. It is true the petty thief is still punished, but the betrayer
of the people, the jobbers who make merchandise; out of people's
liberties and who play treason to cities, states and the nation go un- y.
whipped and unpunished. So many public officials everywhere are
in a conspiracy with corporate wealth to defeat popular government.
You cannot read a morning paper without reading of treason to
the people and to our liberties. My friends, I sound the note of
warning. '. Even this government cannot long endure , such
conditions'. ' . ' ' ' -';
But I' am glad that there is an awakening. I can see the silver
lining on the clouds. To desponding patriotism I call to look hither
ward. On this the nation's natal day I call you back to the people
who gave us independence and upon whom we must rely for its
preservation. There are signs everywhere that the people are again
asserting their powers. The foundations of our national power
are not weakened. The love of the people for popular government
almost compelled to believe that America was hidden away for just
the emergency. The time, however, had come when the human race
needed it and God called 4 a Columbus to man three vessels, and to
.him he gave the key that should unlock this new world and let in
the oppressed of all nations. American soil became "the shadow
of a great rock in a weary land." Hither flocked the oppressed from
; every clime. And despotism came also. But despotism, the hard
ships of pioneer life, Indian butcheries, disease and famine, all com
bined, could not destroy the heart's desire for universal liberty.
When the Indian massacres were an every day occurrence ; when
starvation threatened them; when death was carrying away wholo
colonies; when the sky above them was the darkest, it was at such
a time that despotism demanded submission from the colonies.
,What a dark, starless night it was!" But did the cause of freedom
ever languish ? Xo. It was stronger at that very hour than ever
before. From the depths of their gloom and almost despair there
went up from Jhis enslaved people a' prayer that surely reached the
skies. Their struggle with tyranny only kindled afresh the fires of.
patriotism. WTiile every bloody footprint was made on the battle
l fields of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill and YorktQwn ; during
every heart throb of that patriotic people during all those long
years of revolutionary resistence to tyranny, there was heard every
where the echo of the martyr's prayer: "Give me liberty,; of give
me death." That holy prayer rode every wind that swept the colo
nies until heaven answered it at Yorktown with a new baptism of
freedom. ' ' ' ,
We celebrate this day in vain if we do not catch the spirit of
our - Revolutionary sires. Are there people today who despair of
the republic? Are there people in "all this land who waver in the
struggle now on between the people on the one side and this same
despotism, which our fathers fought, on the other? If there be, I
beg of such to breathe one breath of the spirit of '76. The patrio-
and American institutions is stionger today than ever before." -Wo :tism of our forefathers could not be bribed with money. We needed
.11 t 1 X 1 i it i il : J A- nnt 'n 4-ni-rA i-nAl . " t i. i ' ..1.1' ' ''; 1 ... .
are just on the dawn of a new day. I predict that the immediate
future will write the brightest page in the nation's history. '
In all governments there , are , always two forces contending ,
with each other for supremacy. One of these forces is always striv
ing to enslave and the other to make free. Despotism has always
been relentless in its pursuit to enslave, while liberty has always
not a trained standing army. " The best training a soldier can have
is to love the principles for which he' is fighting. Men left their
I plows' in the fields and hastened to the defense of their liberties.
They were willing to give their lives for a principle. Mothers
pressed their boys to their bosoms and prayed that the war 'cloud'
might pass, but when their country needed them they willingly