Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-05

Inc ceremonies Were pFeSlti'i ~. ~
Commits Macfarlani. who introduc-
cd the speakers and announced the vari-
Gus numbers on the program. In ms
opening. remarks he said
Commissioner Macfarland's Address.
I'VE arc celebrating Independence day
by declaring our Independence of the
dangerous and non-sane celebration meth
/ obs which nave cost this country dear
at the same time expressing the patriot
ism which is So natural 10 the National
Capital The Commissioners and the citi-
zenS united rs always in all movements
fog the general good. determined that
Washington should lead in the cause of
safe and sane celebration of the national
birthday. The astounding reports OF the
killed and wounded on the Fourth of july
battlefield exceeding the number slain
and MANNED in great battles or little
wars. not II speak of the enormous loss
.: property have at least shown Tie les
son wIici. the country must learn.
The Journal OF the American Medical
Association states that in the past SIX
years the bar,aric Fourth OF July ceie-
bration has killed 1,316 and wounded
- $50 persons. If this loss had come
from any other preventable cause it
would have been stopped long ago. Yet
il made possible by the suspension
for one day OF laws for the protection of
life and property. Un-American anarchy
thus provided is directly contrary TO the
ordered liberty of law more powerful
han men. for which our forefathers
made the Declaration of Independence
and the war that gave us freedom and
the world new nation.
Must Have Expression.
Yet ne must have expression for our
natural feelings Of gratitude. Of sym
pathy with seekers after freedom of am
bition for a better country and for the
advancement Of the brotherhood OF man
kind. To show a more excellent way We
have planned this days celebration. and
the public support. for reasons ranging
from enlightened selfishneSs to the high
est altruisn. gave promptly more money
than asked. The people of this capt.
tai. always national III spirit with no
flag but the national flag. giving more
than their share in war and in peace. 10
the support of the national government
have a peculiar feeling for this day ana
all that it represents. The Declaration
of Independence, both the rough dra II
in Jefferson's handwriting. interlned by
John Adams and Ben min Franklin. anu
the engrossed copy. clear ever, though
two-tlirds OF the autographs OF the sign
ers have faded out, Is in the State De-
partment. together with the desk upon
which Jefferson wrote it, The presence
of this great liberty document is charae-
teriStic of this capital. with us price,
less relics and still more precious MEM
cries. The national government has So
iourned in other cities, but tins IS It's
home. Every President since Washing
ton has served here. every Congress since
the Fifth. and the Supreme Court Since
the days of John Marshall. greatest OF
chief justices. George Washington was
the father of the city as of the country.
And its soil was made sacred by his pres
ence as by that of Abraham Lincoln.
who here did his greatest work. This is
the national temple and here is the ark
~
tons and predictions of our country
With JOY we draw water from the wells
OF our national salvation. We see more
over that the Declaration of Independence
and all that came of 1t was not local. but
fits In with the development of the whole
world. The British ambassador took
part naturally in our recent unwilling of
the statue of John Witherspoon. advo-
cate and signer of the Declaration OF
independence. just across from the Brit
ish embassy. for Witherspoon and Jeffer-
son and Adams were carrying on here
the battle for freedom Waged in England
by Pitt and Fox and Burke. 1t was the
English government and not the English
people that denied to the colonies the
rights of Englishmen. and Congress
wisely struck out of Jefferson's draft a
reflection on the English people More.
our revolution was an incident In the
age-long struggle of democracy for lib
erty. preceded by brave efforts in other
countries than Great Britain. and fol-
lowed by the mighty movement it in
spired. which France led and which
alone. but for all humanity has God
made the United States what 1t is. Just
because we are trustees. not owners. we
shall have to give account II we use for
ourselves alone the wealth of opportunity
which has been placed in our hands.
"Homely Patriotism Of Daily Duty"
I'm the presence of this new monument
to the men who under Abraham Lincoln
saved the Union which George Wash
ington had made, .typified by the founder
of the Grand Army Of the Republic, II
is easy to believe that We shall meet
the test of war. 1t is the test of peace.
always more difficult to meet, which we
have to pass. What we need is the
homely patriotism of daily duty. with
out the stimulus Of flags and music or
the keen excitement of physical fighting.
Here again the veterans of the great
strife remind us that the victors of war
Cromwells "Ironsides,'' they became,
north and south. the leaders in all citi-
zenship. And so it has been with their
sons of the little war with Spain. But
we who have never been in any war
are the vast majority and must do our
part without the veterans pride and
inspiration. This can only be done by
putting on the spirit of the forefathers
tirely different. bat just as trying. Our
task is to overcome not their difficulties
and dangers, hut our difficulties and
dangers: to do not their duty, but our
duty. Above all, not to forget our duty
in praising them for doing their duty.
Selfishness. ending in materialism, is our
greatest danger.
1T is well for us TO count the bless
ings' which have been bestowed upon us
as to glory In the achievement of those
| who have gone before us But boasting
is no better or Independence day than
any other day: rather as we rejoice. let
ter service in public and IN private, and
| for better fighting against the evils with
| in and without; We have a splendid
heritage and a magnificent present and
| the future will be like them II we are
! true to our trust. Because We believe
that the vast majority Of our fellow
| citizens are true to the traditions Of the
fathers and share their spirit of devo-
tion to country and devotion to God, We
| face the future with high hopes. We
| do not blink its dangers, but we look
| for victories which shall make our coun-
try greater and better with every century
| TO come
! At the conclusion of Mr.. Maefarlands
speech the chorus of pupils of the public
schools sang Hallers Hymn TO the Father
4 land. They were led by Miss Sallie r.
Mason. The Declaration of Independence
was read by William f. Guide president
of the Chamber of Commerce after which
the Star Spangled Banner was sung by
Mrs. Thomas {. Moves
Senator OWENS Address
| Senator Robert L. Owen of Oklahoma,