Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-10

dalism and the hoodlumism, and those
other unpleasant features which make
the celebration of the Fourth of July
such a deadly. destructive and noisy
occasion. This is true not only of the
Maine press, but of leading papers all
over the country. The feeling seems
to be that the celebration of the dawn
Of American liberty should not de-
generate into an unbridled exhibition
of license and lawlessness. The night
before the Fourth has become night
of terror to property owners, to the
sick and to those who desire any sleep.
But it's noise is one of it's least OBJ
jectionable features. II is fitting that
the glorious day should be ushered in
with the ringing of bells and the boom
of cannon Nobody blames the small
boy for wanting to be up early and
| make the most of the great day. But
| there is feeling that the small boy
| and his older brother overdo the thing
when they begin the celebration of the
Fourth before nightfall of the previous
day, and when they add to the noise
Of the night the destruction of property
and the performance of every act of
vandalism which youthful ingenuity
can suggest.
| From almost every city and village
Of Maine has come the report of acts
on that night which make the conduct
of young America appear in a disgrace
full and unpatriotic light. Fences,
| sidewalks, and doorsteps were de-
mOlshed. flower gardens devastated.
streets blocked, windows smashed, and
old buildings burned. Rowdyism was
| rampant. Not only were the lives of
| the celebrators in constant peril
| through their own recklessness, but
| innocent persons abroad were in fire.
| quent danger of life and limp. The
| list of serious accidents was appalling,
and there We're some of fatal nature.
In the midst of so much confusion and
disorder the ordinary night police force
was either helpless, or suffered things
to take their own course as something
that could not be avoided. But it is
hard to find a valid reason why the re-
quirements of law and order should not
be as exacting upon that night as upon
any other.
In addition to all the noise and
hoodlumsm of the night before the
Fourth, for which there cannot be a
shadow of excuse as being part of the
celebration of Independence day, there
is growing feeling that the use of
dangerous explosives has long since
passed the limits of reason 1t has be-
come public menace and a public
nuisance. Notwithstanding the ex-
IRENE heat of the recent Fourth in the
great cities there We're many killed and
hundreds, if not thousands injured, as
result of the days observance. The
| list of casualties from all over the
| country is horrifying and sickening
Life, limb and property are sacrificed
to an utterly reckless and foolish GUS
tom which is condemned sufficiently by
its abominable noise if there We're
nothing else to urge against it. The
propriety of a national celebration is
not, of course. called in question by
this Indictment. The day should be
celebrated with the greatest enthusi-
assn. 1t is of right our national holi-
day appealing as none other can to
| every section. 1t is a time to eXalt
patriotism and to renew our allegiance
to the grand principles upon which our
government was established. But
what have these to do with destructive
giant crackers and deadly toy cannon d?
With an increase of noise there has
been also an increase of peril. The
comparatively harmless little fire.
crackers and torpedoes of 80 years ago,
which resulted in the child's becoming
the chief celebrant of the day, have
|
dangerous toys. Moreover, modern in
ventiOn has conspired with cheaper
materials to pnttthese threatening
playthings into a far more general U.S.
than would have BEEN possible wher
high prices acted as a restraint upor
the purchase Of even the simpler one:
of old. Naturally the small boy re.
: joices to find that his pocket is equa
; to the emergency, scorns little things
and takes every risk that offers.
But, however much we may sympa
, thize with his pleasures, he should moi
be allowed the opportunity to kill him
self and others. Yet the celebration
today amounts to a license to kill, burr
and destroy. 1t is a mockery of law:
that should be enforced every day il
the year without exception. There il
no possible excuse for it, except that i
I is, and, therefore, should be. AS it ha