The San Francisco call., 1906-07-05
OAKLAND SHOWS HER PATRIOTISM
WITHOUT GLITTER OF PARADE.
Eloquence and Anthems, Inspiring Love
of Country, Listened to by Thousands.
EXERCISES HELD AT THEATER
DR.. Brown Speaks Upon Duties and Re
sponsibiIities Of Citizenship.


OF Independence day in Oakland was
repiete with entertainment for many
thousands OF patriotic citizens, though
the noise Of bomb and cracker was
much less than usual. and there was no
glittering parade. in the absence OF
the usual Gin Of powder and OF the
street pageant eloQuence, music and
athletic events made up the fare Tor the
day.
The Fourth was generally observed
in this city. The music and literary
exercises at the Macdonough Thester
were held at II o'clock in the morning,
and at $3.50 o'clock in the afternoon
there was a regatta on Lake Merritt
From 2 until s.3O o'clock in the after-
noon and from 7 10 10 in the evening
the League OF the Cross Cadets band
gave concerts in City Hall Park. All
day long there were amusements at
Idora Park, where St Mary's parish
gave 2 picnic and al the Claremont
Country Club, and there were special
matinees at all the Oakland theaters
The Illinois Society held reunion at
Piedmont Park, and the Scottish Thistle
Club held its annual picnic at Shell
Mound Park. There were two games
OF baseball at Idora Park.
Altogether the day was quiet one,
although Young America exploded
many Of the smaller kinds Of fire.
works on the streets. The citizens
committee abandoned the idea OF a
pyrotechnic display on Lake Merritt in
the evening. but there was q public
display at Idora Park and private
ones at the Claremont Country Club
and ct homes throughout the city.
FLAGS ONLY DECORATION.
American flags were the only decora-
tion at the MacdonOugh Theater in the
morning. The theater was crowded at
i o'clock when John T. Bell, chairman
Of the citizens committee. introduced
Judge r. H. Gibson as president of the
day. IN his Introduction he told how
Judge Gibson, when a young sergeant
OF the Union army, a member of the
Nineteenth Indiana Infantry, had re-
ceived in battle a wound from which
he lay for four days and four nights
on the battlefield before he was found
by his comrades, and from which he
still suffered.
The mention Of Judge Gibson's name
was greeted with applause, and in ac-
oepting the duties Of president he de-
clered that the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and the Constitution OF the
United States had given TO America the
best government ever devised by the
wisdom of men; that to perpetuate that
government il would be necessary for
the American people to follow the ex-
Lincoln
Rabbi NJ Friedlander offered the in
vocation.
After Thomas Yalerga had rendered
'Cujus Amman" on the cornet, the
chorus and orchestra, under the direc-
tion OF John W. Mckenzie. gave the
soldiers chorus from Faust" Peter J.
Crosby read the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and Mrs. Blake-Alverson. the
venerable songstress. sang 'Vive
iAmerica," and as an encore Annie
Laurie" Forty years ago. at the close
OF the civil war, she thrilled audiences
with her patriotic songs. and she re-
peated those successes this morning
Many Of the gray haired men and
women who applauded her efforts to-
day had heard her sing in the pioneer
days,
On. BROWNS ADDRESS.
Gordon WaEenet recited 'Indepen-
dence Bell" and after the orchestra
had played the Yankee Patrol" DR..
Charles r, Brown, pastor of the First
Congregational Church, was introduced
as orator Of the day. He said, in part:
II is altogether attlng that the peo-
pie OF this country should assemble in
their various communities TO celebrate
this the birthday of & mighty nation.
II is nation that has made for human
progress and its birthday should not
be given over 70 thou ghtless noise and
hiIarity, but should BE the occasion
also for sober thought; and IT should
keep its rightful place Of honor and
dignity.
And this Fourth Of July, following
the Rrest calamity Of Dur neighboFing
city across the bay, should give US
deeper sense Of its rightful meaning.
We who have enjoyed the grand re-
sources OF California had begun to feel
that we were IN measure isolated
bounded on the west as we were by the
mighty Pacific and on the east by the
miles Of mountains and deserts. We
felt that we We're self-sustaining, that
we could provide for ourselves from
our own resources. But in the hour of
our disaster We realized that California
was but part Of the great nation and
the calamity tended 10 knit the friend
ship Of the East and West afresh
These strange events gave a warmer
hand-clasp between East and West and
States.
RESPONSIBILITY OF KINGS.
BY the Declaration of Independence,
the original thirteen States assumed a
common peril and a common RESPONSE
bility. We proudly say that we are un-
crowned Kings. II we are then we
have the responsibilities and duties of
kings as wei as their privileges. I'm
easy lies the head that wears the
crown. If people assume a response
bility they must pay the price After
meeting a respectable and highly hon
knows nor cares anything about poll
tics I think Of him as no better than
q coward He should be compelled TO
live IN Russia or Turkey. or else as
sumo the obligations as well as the
privilege Of freedom.
The weakness Of our two great polit-
teal parties, IL seems to me, lies in the
fact that they have no great ideals.
Japan, the weak, achieved victory over
Russia because of the ideals of the
little brown men.
There are graver problems confront
Ing the American people. There are
the monopolistic tendencies, the race
question and the civic strife between
organizations OF capital and organiza-
tiOns of labor. But there will come a
time when a Lincoln-lil1e voice will call
for volunteers TO grapple with these
Questions-not for volunteers for three
months or for three years, but for the
war, and the answer viii resound:
We are coming. Father Abraham,
Three hundred thousand strong"
The exercises closed by the singing
Of the star Spangled Banner" by Mrs.
Blake-Alverson, the chorus and the au-
dience standing, during which a squad
Of Company 4 Of the National Guard
displayed the American flag.
F-<L. II C.IL--k1L