Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1908-07-09
GLORIOUSFOURTH
PATRIOTISM"
NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS COM
MERCIALIZED NO LONGER
AROUSE ENTHUSIASM.
GORGEOUS MILITARY DISPLAYS
Labor Refuses 20 March With Soldiers
Employed 10 Break Strikes and
Enforce Injunctions.

Well, It's over. Four days OF
agony for the sake OF bringing busi-
ness TO the Helena merchants.
Four days of commercial patriot
ism"
And even the merchants are dis
gusted. as the eagerly sought profits
did not materiaiize. Too many un-
employed to make profit for mer-
chants. Six million unemployed !!
They are making no product. AS
long as they are above ground they
of a way.
Commercial civilization is a failure
and a fake; and the commercial pat
riotism was sticking out all over this
Fourth-of-July celebration. Those
who were the most jealous and the
most conspicuous were those who
had some political Job to brace up on
which their living depended.
No enthusiasm was manifested by
the crowd for any patriotic" sug-
gestions or symbols. They are get
ting dead on to the game that there
isn't much to worship In a govern
ment that looks upon six million idle
and starving men with indifference
and appropriates 230 million dollars
for war measures.
Not one cent to employ and save Its
citizens, but millions for murder, and
to hound them down as ''hoboes"
The toadyism TO the military fea-
ture in the par Iade was sickening. A
nation that parades its instruments OF
murder. Its gatiing guns. its soldiers,
its legalized murderers. is still In the
stages OF savage barbarian.
But the paraphernaiia OF death and
butchery evoked no enthusiasm from
the crowds that silently gazed. II
takes the rich. the prosperous and
the elite TO grow enthusiastic over
military displays. To make these
before the working class muititudes
OF the West Is bringing wares TO the
wrong market. What kind Of free
dom" has American liberty brought
to the working man? The national
constitution Is set aside by congress
court and Injunction in favor of the
capitalist.
Army and navy fight on the side
Of the capitalist. As was remarked
during the parade. AN the soldiers
are for is to parade. and to shoot
Gown working men on strike"
As an instance of the veiled con-
tempt which the pubic feels for the
governments use OF its authority
one quiet little woman, holding a pub
lie position. who watched the police
force of Helena under the command
of Lanstrum's errand boy. Bob Fisk
mount guard over the Auditorium to
prevent the exercise of the consti-
tutional right of free speech therein
said demurely, Il thought they would
order out the army and navy to keep
those two women from speaking"
The flag flies most conspicuously
over the greatest grant of the cap.
itallsts. 1t viii be m ore honored
when II floats over more just and
humane institutions.
The display made by the Helena
Fire Department was the most beauti'
full OF the entire carnival. And thli
is a department that merits the honor
and admiration OF every one. II Il
a municipal function performed b,
the city for the protection of all III
citizens alike. II is to save. not L
kill and starve.
When we have civilization all th'
necessary functions OF social life viii
be performed In the same way.
Labor was conspicuous by Its alb
sence In this parade of capitalist au