The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-07-06
July Fourth
and What It Teaches.

The Fourth of July which was so
generally celebrated yesterday by the
people Of Pensacola should be, and
perchance is, more widely commemor-
ated than any other anniversary day
Of great achievement In the history
OF America Republicanism-the
rule Of the peOple-found its first
true realization upon our shores, ante
dating its triumph In France, wither
our own Lafayette bore the gracious
benizon upon the close Of the war Of
the revolution.
Before that time there was only
one real republic among the civilized
nations o. the world-Switzerland
and this was permitted to remain as
line OF liberty between the con-
strained conditions Of the European
powers IN the vast Alps It acted and
still acts as neutral ground whose
meaning may be traced back to the
days of Tamerlane and which is re-
spected by the governments OF the
Eastern world and obeyed in every
treaty OF peace or declaration OF
war.
But here, in the western world, we
have established a government en-
tirely independent of the old world
politics In guiding France We
strengthened ourself. The object of
the fathers" was to be independent
Il was to present a condition OF
righteousness, to insist on the sover-
eighty OF the people as opposed to
aristocracy, oligarchy, plutoeracy or
any of the consuming, selfish powers
which predomirated under ancient
regimes. If America stands for any
thing it is the vox popuH, the voice
OF the people, as opposed TO the old
idea that this same people must be
ontroI1ed-whether by kings or
bosses. And in standing for the
voice OF the people it also stands for
the rights Of the people.
On this fundamental idea rests the
celebration Of the day. 1t means lib
erty. Its observance should be made
free by decree on the part of every
municipal authority. We are glad
that here IN Pensacola the mayor
permitted the firing OF crackers,
within certain wise limitations, and
thus advised proper observance of
the day. The proclamation was right.
The danger involved in the celebra-
ton is in small ratio to the spirit of
enthusiasm which IL emphasizes and
evolves.
There are certain pessimistic pub
locations which would restrain the
children and place too many restric-
tons upon them in their observance
of the Fourth. These papers show a
bias which Is not accepted by those
who believe in perpetuating the spirit
OF 1915 and giving the growing gen
erations the fullest opportunity to re-
member IL and honor 1t in the way
their youthful fancy may suggest.
The fact that few casualties oc-
cur-and the number is smalI-is a
minor consideration when the object
of the celebration Is considered. L
would be just as wise, perhaps wiser,
to decree the discontinuance OF the
operations of all public carriers,
which add so much to the comfort o.
/ present day existence, because of the
number they slay annually as TO for
bid the celebration OF holiday which
appeals to and enlarges the patriot
ism OF American youth and impresses
upon il the glorious principles of lib
erty, equality and fraternity as an
nouncea in the Declaration of indie
lpendenee. Why, one of those little
hearts, dying in honor of an institu-
ton which means the ultimate free
dom Of the world, is as grand a mar
tyr as the bravest soldier who ever
fought on Americas battlefields.
So, there was truth In HARNESS in
dictment of the st. Louis packing
houses. Disgusting! And will these
meat barons be allowed to escape
punishment, and only little two by
four grating inspectors pay the pen
atty by losing their places? Truly,
There is no more diabolical crime than