Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-06-14
WHO SHALL cELEsRATE.

We take the following from the Bristol
independent:
EDITOR WORCESTERSHIRE desire to
call the attention of the readers of your
paper and our neighbors to q statement
made by the Methodist minister of Brit
ton, Brother Rev. Hambly, at this place
on the soldiers decoration day, May s0th.
In his Grafton before the members of
others, he said in substance--aThati it
towards the United States for Norwegians
wegian 4th of July, and for Canadians or
Englishmsn to celebrate the LIST of June,
or for the Germans to celebrate Emperor
Williams birthday" He kindly left out
the Irish 18th of March. We object to
this teaching on the grounds that it is a
new and unneeded doctrine.
Americans celebrate the glorious Fourth
of July all over the world, wherever
there is sufficient number assembled
in one place to do so. They
celebrate in Canada, London, Paris, Ber-
lin and Sohio, (Japan). at one of their
celebrations at Berlin, the famous Ger
man pianist, Litz, was present and among
other tunes he played Yankee Doodle
In London the American residents used
to gather at the house of the American
banker, Mr.. Peabody, to celebrate the
dear old American Independence Day.
Several Englishmen honored this cele-
bration by their presence as did the Ger
mans at Berlin. 1t is natural, at least to
enlightened people, to desire to keep up,
though it may be in a weak way, the
memory of their forefathers, and the
good work they did for their children,
whatever may be the country they may
happen to be IN. These men also Join in
celebrating this their adopted country in
which their different forefathers have
fought for and assitted in freezing and de-
Tending. There is probably less reason
to preach against celebrating the 18th OF
May than any other day, because this
was the day that Norwegians obtained q
free constitution, which enabled them to
make their own laws and gave them a
separate and independent government,
even allowing them after two reconsid-
erations by their legislature to pass laws
over the Kings veto by two-thirds MA
jority and thus making the King virtually
a "life president" The Norwegians are,
therefore, rejoicing on the 18th of May
over the success of constitutional free.
dom. against arbitrary despotism; hence
| they partake willingly in celebrating the
same idea on the 4th of July. Inter.
national friendship is of great impor.
lance on account of commerce and
diplomacy. For these reasons the 3ov.
ernments in Europe will hardly become
so unwise as to forbid Americans to cele.
brate the 4th of July wherever they fee
inclined to do so. The American gov.
eminent will hardly become less liberal
than others are to them. The soldiers
of the grand army are composed of men
representing all the leading natlonalities
and this body of freedom loving heroes
are not likely to ever desire to prevent q
celebration of the day of constitutional
| freedom in Norway, the 17th OF May
Rev. uambly, born in Canada of Eng.
lish parents, has certainly no i'll feelings
against Canadians, Germans and Scand:.
navians, considered as an average PEG.
pie. We simply call attention TO that
! part of Elder Hambly's Grafton which
we consider misleading and unkind, and
which would only lead to international
retaliations.
We think it is possible for man tc
have more than one friend and also for q
people to have more than one country
Whenever the 18th OF May is celebrated
the American flag is always placed in
| front of the procession, and waves be.
fore the speakers stand. We have
| spoken more particularly of the 18th Of
May. because Rev Hambly had most tc
say about that day, probably on account
Of not knowing its historical value from
a free constitutional standpoint. We
think any people should have right to
celebrate in an orderly and loyal way
be they Americans in foreign lands o.
foreigners in this country, whether they
are Germans, Irish, Canadians or Nor.
wegians. In q couple of centuries more
these several nationalities will melt more
and more into one homogeneous American
people, strengthened and reiuvinated by
cross-breedings
Mr.. Sharratts' Grafton was patriotic
and judicious one, and well delivered
Webster papers please copy.
Yours very truly,
L. STRANDNEss,
ELIAS MoIEE,
III. X. LARSON,
J. o. THOMSON.