Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-07-03
the SPIRIT OF "sEvEMTy.slx."

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1901.
the SPIRIT OF "sEvEMTv-slx."
One hundred and twenty-five years
ago, the American colonies asserted
their independence from the mother
country and proceeded to organize a
government of the people, founded
upon the proposition that all men are
created equal and possess certain in
alienable rights among which are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
While adhering to these principles
and perpetually struggling to maintain
them our country has grown under the
hands of a bountiful Providence from
few STRIPPING colonies to world
power second to none in resources aud
wealth.
But the abuse of this very wealth
and the mad race for commercial
supremacy is a menace to the ideals of
the country which it has cost cur
fathers such unmeasured oceans OF
woe, misery and war to firmly estab-
fish. There is potent danger mani
Testing itself in the sordid commercial
ism that would subordinate everything
to satisfy it's ravenous greed.
Did the revolutionary fathers fight,
bleed and die simply to establish a
rival of the barbaric institutions OF
king.craft and imperial power of the
old world? Did Lincoln and his gal
liant boys in blue struggle to vindicate
the Declaration of Independence that
it might be ruthlessly and selfishly
interpreted to win trade and power:
Did the American people rise as one
man to interfere with the cruelties OF
Spain simply to take up the un-repub'
lican work OF government by duress
of arms?
No, a Thousand times no.
The spirit of Seventy-six is with us
yet, even if it lies dOrment at times
and error seems triumphant. Let
those whose faith falters at the out
look ahead take courage by looking
back and reviewing the obstacles over
come and battles won in the past.
The past teaches US that Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty"
Then let US be vigilant. Let US en-
courage the spirit of "seventy-six, "
of ysixty- one'' and of 'ninety-eight. "
Let us not allow our patriotic
speeches to gradually become mere
boasts of power, trade and dollar, but
let US remember that there are things
of priceless value, namely the inalien-
able rights of all men ito life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness"
These rights the patriot must guard.
He must instill a knowledge and a
reverence therefore in the minds OF
the growing generation.
But if a moral lesson is to be of any
living value the teacher must be con-
sistant in his actions. Even the dull
est is able to perceive the inconsistency
of celebrating the inception of the
Declaration of Independence with ella
borate pomp at the same time that we
force, with the threat of continued
military occupation. a country that
is and by right ought to be free and
independent to yield to our claim
of suzerainty.
Let us not confound patriotism with
10y atty to party. He who defends a
wrong principle simply to sustain his
political party and keep his friends in
Office places party above country,
partisanship before patriotism and the
spoils of Office above the jewels of a
free people. Like Esau, he sells his
birth-right for a mess of pottage.
Let US so celebrate the glorious
Fourth that the spirit of seyenty-six
will be revived in the bosoms of the
participants. And let US with glad
acclaim give praise and thanks to the
great Author of our liberties for His
mercies, that He may remain the only
King to whom we owe allegiance, and
let US not like the people of old be-
come so craven in our desire to e''be
like other people" that He must sent a
scepter OF iron to rule over US and de-
stroy our freedom.
Our fathers God! To Thee,
Author of liberty,
TO Thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright
With freedoms holy light;
f.. Protect US by Thy might,