Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-07-05
Keep To First Principles.

sNSSH hSs
Independence day we, the American
people, glorify our past, rejoice in oul
present, and look confidently into oul
future. Young and old unite to cele
brate the birth of popular govern
ment, to pay tribute to the fathers
and mothers who founded this mighty
nation, to consider its achievements
to ponder we'll the dangers that now
confront the body polite, and to re-
new the vigor of an intelligent pa
triotism that shall transmit to poster
ity true democracy in Americal
The birth certificate of this nation
is the Declaration Of Independence
The reading OF that immortal docu.
ment may well fill leading part in
this days activities. We all need to
be reminded of the fundamental prin'
ciples Of government which are so per.
fectly expressed in that historic docu.
ment. Especially is this true now
that certain gentry prate about those
eternal principals Of human lib.
erty as having been Suppressed
ed" Such persons remind one oil
the hippant youth who asserts that
he has "outgrown" regard for the
mother that bore him, or suggest the
purse proud man who seeks to put
away the wife OF his struggling years
Devotion to the best ideals OF Amer.
icanism, recognition that manhood is
more than money and that character
is above wealth, honest endeavor in
little things as in great, more active
and incorruptible participation in To-
cal politics and public affairs, civic
pride, living in joyous happiness ye1
in righteousness and in harmony with
ones religious conceptions-let such
be the aims of each OF us, young a,
we'll as old, and the future OF thil
great nation will ever be secure.
There is no Royal Road to individ'
ual greatness. Both are matters o.
honest endeavor, persistently carried
out. The individual may be tempted
to forsake character for material gain
and thus foster wrong ideals in the
nation. But the lesson above all 9th
ers that is taught by the Fourth O
July is that the might and power O.
the United States rest not in its army
or navy, or its material resources, but
rather in the high ideals and consci
entious purposes Of its people.
Let us faithfully adhere to the fun
damental principles OF character
equality, frate rnity and liberty upon
which the fathers founded this ma.
ton, and the republic will forever en-
dure. But to the extent that, as in.
viduals, we depart from these old
standard, to just that extent do We
SOW the seeds of weakness in national
as in personal character. "No one o.
us is responsible for being here, bul
we are responsible while we are here
responsible to our creator, to oul
parents, to ourselves and to our gov.
eminent of which each OF us is both
creature and creator.
The diplomacy OF peace is grandel
by far than the "big stick" OF war,
and infinitely less expensivel
Our courseas individuals and az ma.
ton is perfectly mapped out. Let vi
60 on serenely, confidently, peacefully
reverent!y, until from the equator tc
the north pole we become one homo.
geneous American republic, each Sec
ton free in its local development, but
SO united at home the nations abroad
may avoid warfare with America by
either sword or tariffs. Thus may
each OF us taste the joys of heaven in
this existence, qualify. ourselves the
better for the hereafter, and contrib
ute our mite toward perpetuating or
this continent a government tina,
shall be an inspiration to all man
kind as long as man enduresl