Evening journal., 1907-07-13
DeLAwARE,s OPPORTUNITY.

Editor The Evening Journal
Many Of your readers no doubt have
oeen deeply interested and rightfully so
IN the commendable efforts recently
made by our United States senators
ana our representative in Congress, in
petitioning the Secretary OF the Navy
for the naming OF one Of our new twen-
ey thousand ton batteships after our
beloved State, which has been. we be-
lleVe, successfully accomplished and
the name selected.
IL will, indeed. be a glorious dav for
Delaware and Delawaroans alike. I'm
fact no small honor for our State.
when in the near future, to the sound of
martial music, amid the cheering of as
sem bled thousands the hum of many
voices, the booming OF cannon and sur
rounding with ships gaily decorated
with flags OF all nations, the launch
ing ceremonies shall finally take place
ana our nation shall have another great
battleship Of the United States navy.
this one the first one OF its type, bear
ing the honored name Delaware" after
our native State May its record In
the years to come prove a noble one
indeed, az Incentive and an inspiration
alike TO future generations
our proud little State, IL seems, has
peen left almost until the last one Of
the thirteen original states of the union
10 be thus highly honored, although
the first one to ratify the Constitution.
The writer does not wish to belittle
IN any sense the high honor our citi-
zens shall thus enjoy on that happy
occasion. lie viii always glory I'm their
successes and honorable achievements
and is willing also to contribute his
iull share to make the occasion a brill
liant success. He yields place TO no
one In pledging his loyalty to both the
state and the Nation at all times.
lt seems to the writer however. that
a much greater honor than the one
above referred to is being carelessly
ignored and neglected by many of our
citizens, an honor which may be ours
as people, through coming genera
tons, II we will but recognize il, truly
desire IL and earnestly work for il.
such rare honor is even now almost
within our grasp and as a people. we
seem to be as one dazed or blind or
/ peradventure asleep. not yet fully
aware of the lasting glory that may
be ours through coming wears, if we
VIII but reach out and seize the prize
which the present opportunity holds
out to us.
on the Fourth day Of July A. D..
1907, comparatively little band of
loyal citizens of Wilmington gathered
near Eighth and Market streets IN this
city and with some enthusiasm un-
turled TO the breeze our nation emblem
ana with IL modest banner bearing
this inscription "a Stainless Flaw-A
I fa4f
loyal men have thus called upon the
citizens OF Delaware without regard TO
race, party affiliatiOn or religious dis
tinction to unite with them against a
common foe, an enemy which is even
now secretly gnawing at the nations
Vitals. seeking the destruction OF its
young manhood for no other reason
than rapacious greed for gold. our
best manhood and womanhood are
urged to rally to the support OF a pop
ular movement, having for It's object a
| new Declaration OF independence
AS people we owe no allegiance 10 the
legallzed liquor traffic now In our midst.
although tt arrogantly assumes to have
great Influence with the powers that be-;
and therefore a call IS made upon our
young manhood to exert their blrthrleht
as freemen, throw or the oppressive yoke
that enslaves us as people and demand
In the name OF our God that these United
! states Of America arc and OF right ought
TO be and over shall be free from saloon
domination in the future years.
As Delaware WAS the first STATE in the
Union to mtfy the Constitution, let us
still bravey maintain the high standard
set us by our ancestors for patriotism
take the lead once more for our Nations
welfare and IN this struggle fer new
liberty pledge again II need be "our lives,
our fortunes and our sacred honor" in or
/ der to secure for Delaware and posterity
the great and lasting honor of being the
iwt state Ia the Union 70 outlaw the
/ liquor traffic by the sovereign vote Of the
people. No other State in America has
ever yet succeeded I'm this glorious
achievement other States have outiawed
the traffic through proh.biidve legislation.
The aim OF the present movement IS to
outlaw the traffic IN this State through
State wide local option. This golden op-
portunity Is ours il we will but prove our
selves worthy of it as a people. We can
do IT, WIN we do Ri
Shall we not as a State seize the pres
ent opportunity now Offered as and on
November 5ih next, obtain undylng famcf
or shall we prefer suuinely to relax In
our efforts. retreat before this boa tful
enemy within our borders and let THIS
great honor for our state 81 p from cur
grasp forever?
As the shackles OF the cruel slave driver
in his Ignorance and blindness and greed
Of gain were once broken from of his p
pressed victims by a generation Of loyal
patriots and human slavery as an insi-
tuition was once and forever destroyed
and banished from among us, in like
manner IL we are TO believe Gods word,
shall the succeeding years Of Chrlsts
ever advancing Kingdom break tho
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