The Red Cloud chief., 1908-07-03
FROM THE
COMMONER
MIR. BRYAN'S PAPER
THE FOURTH OF JULY.

what can be done to promote n move
ment for n more sane celebration of
the Fourth of July and to correct a
somewhat perverted patriotic sentL
ment. Second. what can be done to
prepare the children and youth for
the high duties of Christian citizen
ship. AS the day approaches for the
annual celebration of the Fourth of
July 1t is well that preparation should
be made for celebrations in harmony
with the national sentiment that led
our %forefathers to set apart this day
as a public holiday. Our failure to
celebrate this day is not a good sign
and even where It is celebrated, the
fact that the celebration turns to
amusements rather than to the serious
contemplation of the subjects suggest.
ed by the day, this fact is likewise
significant Of a lack of respect for the
day.
The Fourth OF July Is n national
holiday because on hat day the ma.
tons independence was declared and
it is considered as the birthday of the
ItDuDllC. Il at lONlSll "oNlu out6'oN 'l
appropriate celebration in every com.
munity-a celebration at which the
people would gather to bestow merited
praise upon our forcfathers: to dis
cuss the fundamental principles of
methods of government: to review the
achievements of the past: to consider
the dangers that II the future;
81 A.. tn,, .to,, fN. thn ,No,,,nt,,tt,. ~
a government of the people, by the
people and for the people. Amusc-
ments can be introduced in the pro
gram but the amusements ought to be
incidental and not the main feature
OF the day. Is 1t not possible for the
people to lay aside for at least n day
out of the year their interest In mate
rial prosperity and consider the ques-
tons vitality concerning our national
life and our national destiny?
When the parents commemorate the
Fourth Of July as they should. 1t will
be easy to prepare the children for
the duties Of citizenship. We are all
imitators to a greater or less extent
and the children are quite sure to be
impressed by the actions and con
yersations of their elders. The best
way to prepare our children for the
discharge of the high duties OF citizen
ship Is to be s~crupuously careful our
selves about the discharge OF the
duties Of citizenship. II parents are
Indifferent to the observance Of the
Fourth of July, their children are apt
to be. If the parents prefer amuse
ments on that day, the children are
apt to prefer amusements, too. II Is
not necessary that there should be al
elaborate address by n distinguished
speaker, although an impressive ad
dress by one who enjoys the conf
dence Of the people is entirely fitting
The Declaration of Independence
should be read, national airs ought tC
be sung and those who are leaders o
thought in their community ought Il
give expression to their views. i
ought to be a day for the free ex
change of sentiment and for the
stimulation of thought about public
questions and interest in public af
fairs.
The Indifference with which some
now speak of the vital principles Sc
forth in the Declaration of Independ
ence ought to lead to more zeal on thu
part of those who defend the Declar
alton OF Independence. Colonialisn
would not have been accepted so com
placently by SO many had there beer
the interest there ought to have beer
in the constant discussion of the prin
ciples Of free government. Imperial
ism would not have found the recep
ton that 1t did had the Fourth of Jul!
been observed as 1t ought to have
been observed. and the advocates O
Imperialism and colonialism will grow
less in proportion as the people TAX
an active interest in the perpetuatiol
of the ideals of government that LEI
the patriots of 1776 to promulgate tn
Declaration of Independence an
pledge to It's support their lives, thei
property and theit sacred honor.
The interesting discovery has beel
-~.lA tLak .ko ,arto 80 1nnT no haan,