The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-01-06
NORTHWEST HAVE


g fhe North American would be tn
last to advocate a yielding TO ever
"equest for the Liberty Bell to b
sent hither and yon as a sort
sideshow attraction for unimportan
.ocal celebrations. But there ha
come a plea for its presence fro'
across the continent which we thin
should be needed.
Since the time when Seward wa
called the fool of a century" TO
paying a few millions to Russia TO
Alaska, then deemed a barren, icy
worthless wilderness, there ha
grown a wonder city beside a hal
Dor in which all the navies of TN
earth might lie in snug anchorage
And through that splendidly typica
American city of Seattle there passe
every year the golden harvest
Alaska, thousandfold greater al
nually than the cost to America TO
all that territory.
And all the While, southwark
Seattle, Portland has been growing
in size and stability worthy tn
name eastern tourists give to it
"the Philadelphia of the West.
Beside the Columbia river, who's
pure flood makes the Mississippi
ugly and the Hudson petty ana un
impressive, with snow-capped moun
tains in sight of the city's streets
with every home the center of {
garden, powered with every variet
of bloom Portland is as proud of it
beauty as it Is Of its commercial
strength and conservatism, and
lbove ALL of its Americanism.
Those two cities are to celebrate
their arrival at full stature amont
American cities. Next summer the!
invite Americans who know only tn,
East and Europe to look upon ou
west. And, therefore, we thinl
that this plea which comes t.
Philadelphia deserves the most re
spectful and riendly consideration:
To His Honor, the Mayor, the Sc
lect Council and the Common
Council, Philadelphia, Pa.
Gentlemen:
The Portland Rose Festival an
the Alaska-Yukon-P Pacific Expos
ton of Seattle are extremely ann
ious to have the dear old Libert
Bell brought to the Pacific coas
in June, 1909. This sacred men
orial, whose thrilling tones II
spired our foresathers, has neve
visited the great golden Wes
We feel that it would prove va
lable educator to the rising genel
ations, and ins. Ire them with tn
patriotism that proves a sheet al
chor to the windward and a bu
wark to our civil and religion
liberty.
If you, honorable gentlemen, wi
pass an ordinance making 1t pos
sible for us to secure the pres
ence of the Liberty Bell, we Wi
Immediately arrange the financia
details connected herewith. w
will send a guard of safety t
meet the Bell and its guard c
honor at the state line, and watc
over 1t carefully until 1t ha
passed out of our state confine:
Already the Mayors of hundred
of cities and towns along the pos
sible routes the Bell might trave
have volunteered to give the vel
come worthy of the Importance
Tens of thousands of school chi
dren would greet the bell an
smother 1t with flowers as the
sang patriotic songs In commemC
ration.
In the event of visit by tn
Liberty Bell, we assure you tina
progress through the land will b
the march of conquering her
III SiSae ehN hSt'
cause. With the sincere hop
that you may grant our request
We have the holor to sabscrib
ourself, yours very sincerely
The Portland Rose Festival
We can conceive OF no more Ii
spring lesson il patriotism tha
would be provided by that jealousl
guarded journey OF the Bell from tn
Delaware to Puget sound and tn
Columbia.
1t Is wise and proper to keep tina
oAal relic from becoming cheal
ened. ever.trave.ing trlnket.
should never leave its shrine say