The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1908-07-03
The Fourth Of July.
From Bryan's Commoner. ]

A correspondent has asked, hrSt,
what can be done to promote move
ment for a more sane celebration of
the Fourth of July and to correct a
somewhat perverted patriotic senti-
ment. Second, what can be done to
prepare the children and youth for the
high duties of Christian citizenship.
AS the day approaches for the annual
celebration of the Fourth of July 1t is
well that prepa atoms should be made
for celebrations in harmony with the
national sentiment that led our fore
fathers to SET apart this day as pub
tic holiday. Our failure TO celebrate
this day is moi good sign and even
W ere it is celebrated, the fact that
the celebration turns to amusements
rattle, than to the serious contempla-
ton of the sucjscts suggested by the
day, this fact is likewise significant of
lack of respect for the day.
The Fo n of July is national holi-
day because on that day the nations
independence vas declared and it is
considered as the birthday of the re-
public. Patriotism would suggest an
appropriate celebration in every COM
munity-a celebration at which the
people would gather to bestow merited
parise upon our forefathers; to discuss
the fundamental principals of methods
of government; to review the achieve
ments of the past; to consider the
dangers that menace the future; and
to lay plans of perpetuity of govern
ment of the people, by the people and
for the people. Amusements can be
introduced in the program 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 material pros
perity and consider the questions vital
ly concerning our national life and our
national destiny?
When the parents commemorate the
Fourth of July as they should. it will
be easy to prepare the children for the
duties of citizenship. We are all imi-
tators to a greater or less extent and
tn, children are quite sure to be i'm
pressed by the actions and converse
tions of their ders. The best way to
prepare our children for the discharge
of the high duties IF citizenship is to
be scrupulously careful ourselves about
the discharge of the duties of citizen
ship. If parents are Indifferent to the
observance of the Fourth of July, their
children are apt to be. If the parents
prefer amusement on that day, the
children are apt to prefer amusements,
too. 1t is not necessary that there
should be an elaborate address by a
distinguished speaker, although an i'm
pressive address by one who enjoys the
confidence of the people is entirely fit
ting. 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 stimu-
lation of thought about public ques-
tionS and interest in public affairs.
The Indifference with which some
now speak of the vital principles set
firth in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence ought to lead to more zeal on the
part of those who defend the Declara-
tion 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 i'm
perialism 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 1776 to promulgate the
Declaration of Independence and
pledge to its support their lives, their
property and their sacred honor.