Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-06-24
THE SANE FOURTH.

THE SANE FOURTH.
| All over tho land the cry is heard TOT
a ssaner. Fourth of July. The stats
tics showing the fatalities due to the
careless handling OF explosives have
had the effect of opening the eyes OF
many to the folly of making the SN'l-
TONS holiday a day OF human sacrifice.
But there will be no "saner Fourth
until a saner method OF celebration
shall have been adopted
John Adams declared that 1ndepen--
dence day Ought TO be solemnizsd
with pomp and parade. with shows,
games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and
Examinations, from one end of this
country to the other" He also sue
gested that 1t be commemorated as
the day OF deliyerance by solemn acts
of devotion to God Almighty. rms,
undoubtedly, was the idea of the fran
ers of the Declaration OF Independence
But VIC have departed entirely from
that beautiful IDEAL There is no long
Fer any solennity in the poinp and pa
rade, and the religious celebration mas
become obsolete. We claim to be a
Christian Nation and clanor for the
insertion of the name of the Deity in
the Constitution, but we exclude God.
from our celebration of the day upon
which God gave us liberty and com
s,nenlorate it in d truly pagan fashion
Coming generations would be justified
in CHASING us as fire worshipers
There is an nteresting description Of
an early Independence day celebration
attended by Washington, held at
Spring Gardens, Va. It commenced
with the firing OF cannon at day break lS
Then Washington reviewed a parade OF
infantry, cavalry. and artillery. After
wards he went to church and heard q
sermon on independents, Patriotism
and the Duties Of Citizenship by an
eminent Presbyterian preacher There
was also a. banquet with no less than
fourteen speeches. The subjects Of the
orators we're: Tho Day We Celebra TEL rs
s.Firmness in the Present Crisis; The
Patriots Of ,76;'''s "The President Of tho
United states;:,','.5.rhe Vice President"
5.Congress;" 1.-THE Governor Of tho:
Commonwealth Of Virginia. & In
FAINT Navy" ..The Gallant Youths Of
America Millions for Defense and
Not One Cent for Tribute" "Gallatin;"
sePinckney and Marshall" General
George Washington, the First Of He-.{j
roes and the Best OF Men," Washing
ton withdrew as the last toast was
This gives an idea. Of the
solemnity with which the Nations ma
tai day was celebrated in the early
days.
They are now talking of the SPRING
field plan of celebration. What that
plan is is set forth in an article In
the Atlantic Monthly for June. -Ac-#
cording to this, the aims OF the franz
ems OF that ;pla an have been to restrict
the indiscrilninate use Of fireworks and
explosives, and to provide, under de-
finite control. extensive and varied en-
Stertainment. In seeking these things
the opportunity afforded by the enlist.
rnent OF the energy and ingenuity Of all
elements of the population was quickly
appreciated.
Every one was interested In making
the holiday q success. The program
provided for morning, afternoon and
evening. The great parade came first,
school children, uniformed boys repre- /.
senting different wards, floats prepared
by representatives or different nation
alities. bands of music and choral so.
oieties. The floats enabled the foreign
born to present the heroic side of their
history in Instructive contrast with the
ideals often emphasized in the provin-
Icial caricatures familiar to Americans.
The mass singing of national airs at
tracted thousands and aroused great
enthusiasm.
IN the afternoon there were picnica,
with games, athletic sports on land and
water and something Of the eduoation-
al in the form OF well-matured ad-
dress upon a suitable theme At night
the city was transformed into fairy
land. Nominations were everywhere,
Fireworks were used at four central
4, (. -l4 z 4
points where thousands were able to
enjoy them, Throughout the day there
was Individual freedom everywhere
but the idea of central organization
and management was dominant,
Patriotic societies might well study
this plan and take the lead in trying
10 have 1T adopted in other cities. In
the various Utah settlements the Poop
pie have celebrated very much accord
ing to this pattern, in times gone by.
They should go back to the good old
time, when the celebration was sane;
that would prevent the insane doinss
that remind one Of anarchy rather
than liberty.
INCOME TAN PROPOSALS.