The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-05

been the privilege of license, that we
won, rather than freedom, or the right
OF self government. Each new gener.
alton seems to vie with the proceed
Ing one to more forcibly express their
patriotism. We have run riot with
our desire for noise, for the spectac-
ular, for excitement, from the half
holiday, We have extended our pande-
monium to severa. whole days, from
the small powder fire cracker, which
is nearly harmless to the big cannon
cracker of high explosives that may
be absolutely fatal at short range.
5 Our death rate from reported acct
dents has reached as high as 500
with 1000 injuries not fatal, in a
single year. Is it not time to call a
halt? am glad to see that there is
a decided movement in this direction.
In such matters as with almost every
thing pertaining to government, it is
public opinion that rules.
Laws of themselves are not effect
i've unless the large majority Oh the
people favor their enforcement and
are ready to express Their elves &C
cordingly
We came into Office too late to take
any effective measures to this end
But We hope and expect a year from
this day, with your help, to have a
sane Fourth. Has it ever occurred
to you to ask yourselves what the
independence and the maintenance Of
individual freedom? We are apt te
look upon the problems of govern
ment close at hand as of little i'm
portance as compared with the prin
scipless involved 100 years ago. II
those days there were only three
cities in the United States of greater
population than Keokuk of today.
In a number of cities we count the
population now by millions and have
been trying to adjust ourselves to the
many new and complex conditions Of
our modern civilization. Our hope OF
solving the many problems facing us
is by the earnest application of each
and all to the work in hand
A great interest on the part of the
individual in all things that pertain
to the general welfare, the earnesi
belief that the public welfare is {
part of the duties of each individual
The elimination of the old idea ant
practice that public funds and public
office are to be exploited for the
benefit of the Individual interest.
am heartily in sympathy with thu
idea of intoxicating into each new gen
Grafton a love and respect for patriot
ISM mean by patriotism sincer'
interest in that which is of genera
welfare; that which is for the goot
of all.--Now, If patriotism IS worthy 0
our highest endeavor. | claim tina
/ conversely--that he who is a traito
to the cause, who uses public office
public funds or political power to hi
own personal end and to the detrl
ment of the people is worthy only o
contempt and condemnation. That !
we teach our children, love of coun
| try an earnest interest in all thing
of general welfare-they a'so-shoul'
be taught that there is no create
crime than being a traitor to a publ
trust There has been no greater fac
| tor in the misrule of our cities thai
this lack of principle.
We have been too ready to condor
a crime against the state Or commur
! ity. when had that crime been con-
mitted against an individual we woul
4 have been ready and willing to cham
! pion the cause of the defendant.
Let us then fully realize, that W
are still struggling for independence
for individual liberty. The fact tina
the contest is not now against fol
eign power, but against the natura
forces within ourselves, makes 1t n