Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-07-09

0OuAOCo VI Just pIiu6 duu Scll-BThtu
lation, they do not account altogether
for the fact that this birthday party
covers continent, and is attended BY
millions: they do not account for the
cheers, the triumphant songs and the
fearful emotions that swell our CRATE
full hearts.
But added to these sources Of pride
there come the greater. finer, more
splendid elements Of justification in
our joy, which spring from the senti.
mental side OF the picture.
With all our marvellous growth in
square miles, in merchandise, in rail
roads, in luxury and in population
we have kept pace in the matter ol
education, art, science, literature, and
the reflnements OF an advanced civlli,
zation.
AS a people we have increased in
wealth, but we haye not become
sordid. We have reveled in luxury,
but we have not become depraved
Public life and its temptations have
developed grafters, but they have been
rebuked and punished.
In all the years since the memorable
Fourth Of July, l776, we, as Nation,
have been steadily keeping our eye
fixed upon the star of personal liberty
and the right to individual happiness.
We have sought to abolish human
slavery In all its forms. We worked
sometimes very slowly, it is true,
toward our highest ideal Of what a
nation guided by the light Of a
Christian civilization ought to be. We
have ever had an alert aud ready ear
for the cry OF the oppressed and the
down-trodden, and we have not
hesitated, when necessary, to raise the
call ''to arms and to give of our
wealth. yea, of our hearts blood to
compass their rescue and relief.
We have striven to eliminate want
and penury among our people, with
such effective purpose, that now, none
need be hungry or ill-clad in all this
great land of ours.
And this flag Of ours-the stars and
stripes which floats so proudly In the
breeze today-what of it? OF itself, it
is merely piece Of bunting-a child,
with the price of one days labor could
purchase it. But who, even If he had
the wealth Of the indies, could pur-
chase what it represents?
During the "Boxer troubles" in
China, when the allied armies OF the
civilized world were encamped round
about the Imperial City Of Pekin (;
when human life was held to be Of
little worth when no man without an
armed guard dared to walk the streets,
the poorest Chinese coolies, probably
the most hopeless and helpless class
Of people in the world, came to General
Chaffee, commanding the United
States troops, and asked for American
fiags-the stars and stripes-and when
the General asked them "Why?" they
answered: IF we can get the flag Of
your country and place it over our
novels, no man will dare molest US
our lives and our property will be
safe; and then, when the general
was silent. they clasped their hands in
entreaty, and with fearful voices ad-
ded: "a very little flag will do"
And General Chaffee, proud, no
doubt, of the wonderful tribute that
had been paid to you and me in that
pitiful request, cabled to Washington
for thousands OF these little printed
flags, with which you decorate, and
distributed them among the coolies OF
Pekin.
Think of it, my friendsl THERE'S no
man on the face of this broad earth so
poor and lowly, but that he may leap
to the protecting folds of that bright
flag, cry Sanctuary" and be safel
Then, why should we not celebrate9
Why should we not, on one day in the
year, assemble, burn gunpowder, and
be vain-glorious? Why should we
not, on one day in the year, loose its
muzzle, and let the eagle scream !
Why should we not, on one day in the
year, cast our proud banner to the
breeze, and with the immortal Daniel
Webster, raise oneS united shout:
"Thank God, l too, am an American r