Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-07-03
FROM THE
COMMONER
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
MIR. BRYAN's PAPER

A correspondent has asked first,
what can be done to promote move
ment for more sane celebration of
the Fourth of July and to correct
somewhat perverted patriotic senti-
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 we'll 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 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 lack of respect for the
day
The Fourth Of July is national
holiday because on that day the ma
tons independence was declared and
it is considered as the birthday of the
republic. Patriotism would suggest an
appropriate celebration in every COM
munity-a celebration at which the
people would gather to bestow merited
praise upon our forefathers; to dis
cuss the fundamental principles of
methods of government; to review the
achievements of the past; to consider
the dangers that menace the future;
and to lay plans for the perpetuity of
q government Of the people, by the
people and for the people. Amuse-
ments can be introduced in the pro-
gram but the amusements ought to be
incidental and not the main feature
of the day. Is it not possible for the
people to lay. aside for at least one 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-
versations of their elders. The best
way to prepare our children for the
discharge of the high duties of citizen
ship is to be scrupuously careful our
selves about the discharge of the
duties of citizenship. If 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. 1t is
not necessary that there should be an
elaborate address by distinguished
speaker, although an impressive adj
dress by one who enjoys the conf
dence of the people is entirely fitting.
The Declaration of independence
should be read, national airs ought to
be sung and those who are leaders of
thought in their community ought to
give expression to their views. 1t
ought to be day for the free ex-
change of sentiment and for the
stimulation of thought about public
questions and interest in public at
fairs.
The Indifference with which some
now speak of the vital principles set
forth in the Declaration of Independ-
ence ought to lead to more zeal on the
part of those who defend the Declar-
alton of independence. Colonialism
would not have been accepted SO COM
placently by SO many had there been
the interest there ought to have been
in the constant discussion of the prin-
ciples of free government. Imperial
ism would not have found the recep-
ton that it did had the Fourth of July
been observed as it ought to have
been observed, and the advocates of
Imperialism and colonialism will grow
less in proportion as the people take
an active interest in the perpetuation
of the ideals of government that led
the patriots of 1875 to promulgate the
Declaration of independence and
pledge to Its support their lives, their
property and their sacred honor.
The interesting discovery has been
made that the panic of 1907-OS began
almost on the date that President