The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-07-07
JOHN nj. FLYNN S ADDRESS
The Ashland Attorney Addresses a Wash
burn Audience on the Fourth.

torney, made an excellent address
in Washburn on the Fourth. He
held his audience in good shape,
despite the opposition OF the fire
cracker and the noisy children.
From Mr.. Fynn's address THE
TINES is able to give a few extracts
which are especially good.
But in the exuberance of our
JOY We must not lose sight of the
true significance of the day we cele-
orate. Fireworks, parades, music
and speeches all go for naught if we
do not stop to consider the reason
for all this display. We are but
children romping in the thoughtless
levity of immaturity if we fail to
look beyond these outward NANTES
tations, If we fail to perceive the
motive that underlies them, the
sources from which they spring. :
What do we commemorate today?
20 back with me to the period prior
to the American revolution and let
Us glance briefly at the conditions
that then prevailed in the American
colonies. Witness a nation of
5000, 900 people grooming under the
oppression of a tyrant king whose
every act meant the tightening of
the chains of subsection which bound
them. Think of the long list of in
juries recounted IN the declaration
OF independence which you have
heard read today-the refusal of
King George to pass necessary and
salient laws for the benefit of the
colonies, his arbitrary conduct in
calling together or dissolving legis-
lative bodies at his pleasure, his ob-
struction of justice by the appoint
ment of judges dependent on his
will alone for the tenure of their
offices, his endeavors to prevent the
increase OF population of these
states, his multitudes of paid hire
lirgs and his armies quartered here
n time of peace for the purpose of
enforcing his oppressive measures,
his denial of the rights guaranteed
by the memorable Magma Charta,
his unjust taxes imposed without
our consent, IN fine, his utter disre-
gard of every natural and political
right to which We were entitled
under the laws of God and man.
Against these wrongs and others too
numerous to mention did the
thirteen Ucited States of America
arise in desperation, declaring that
they were henceforth free and in
dependent states. That declaration
made July 4th, 1916, has never cen
successfully contradicted. 1t has
stood the test of time ana tod ay we
reaffirm it's sentiments. X
I'VE are all patriots tod ay. Let
US not put away sour patriotism
when the day is overMbut wear it
every day. True patriotism cannot
be defined. 1t exemplifies itself in a
thousand ways. The soldier on the
battlefield, the marine that faces
the belchinglguns of the enemy's
warship or braves the. hidden death
of the'hoating mine, the public Off
cial faithful to the trust imposed on
him-all are patriots, But, so, too,
are the private citizens, who walk
the ways of peace, attending to
their personal affairs but ever
mindful of she fact that they are
citizens and that as such they can
and should exercisel.a some influence
on the affairs of their country.
Join with me then in the resolu-
ton to be ever watchful, ever active,
ever conscientious'swhen questions
of the welfare of our country are in
volved. Join withs me in the hope
| that ambition and success will not
blind our eyes to the principles of
that declaration we reaffirm today
Join with me in promising that
never with in our consent will our
n ltional flag, the emblem OF freedom,
be looked upon by anya nation as a
sign of subsection. Join with me in
fervently calculating.
1.-The star-spangled banner, Q
long may it wave,
| Der tt.c land of the free and the
home IT the brave.