The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-04
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.

Inns 'e tHe uaN we colenrate, only
we do not celebrate il to any great e,
tent in the way that freemeu might b
supposed to celebrate their coming int
a great liberty end independence fror
the darkness Of the personal despostisr
which King George III. undertook t
impose OH the American colonies.
We have celebrated it in the past il
murderons way. killing people (acci
dentally) in the process by the hun
dreds, and wounding and manning then
by the thousands, A better sentmen
has sprung up as 10 this, and the so
called "safe and same Fourth ide1
is spreading throughout the country
But 1T must be confessed that to those
accustomed to the uproar and excite
ment of the old-time celebration, the
new proposals seem very tame; and
then, there is i counter attraction
sports, games and various forms OF
amnsements are coming far more into
vogue for the day, and are likely to be
immensely more popular than the Nsafe
ana sane' celebration idea.
Just now we are presented with a
great Anomaly in this coJntry. All
forms ot brutal pnstimes and amuse-
ments are frowned upon and in nearly
every State are under the ban of the
law, But in one State of the Union
there is freedom for such contests, and
to that State every eye-we might al
most say in the civilized worlds
turned, The American public is quite
mad, thoroughly infatuated about it.
The great pugilistic fight that is on for
today at Reno is the theme everywhere:
in public assemblages, in meeting
places. in saloons. on the streets, in no.
tells, in offices, and even as far as the
eestibuIes in the churches.
1t is most extraordinary thing, too,
hat a so-called sport which is under
he ban of public opinion, is almost
forbidden by the law.
hould be the great national attraction
or Independence day. This day should
'e dedicated to patriotism. to Joyous
In honor of the liberties
by great people; it should
'e iull Of patriotic observances and
very heart should be filled with thank
illness aud gratitude that America not |
My achieved its great freedom, but |
as been able to maintain it, tri-
strongly, in the face of an
Diverse world, and has so influenced
ublic opinion in all civilized lands that
len IN all of them are today freer than
1ay could have possibly been save for
ie mighty example set for freedom by
le Great RepabBc.
But we see no such prevailing
'ought, On the contrary, the thought
everybody is towards a Hsport''
lat is condemned by the vast ma ioritv
the people and by statutes in nearly
very State. Here we have a great
izzle and mystery. If indeed the
eople of the United States are so
eenly interested in and such vigorous
'pporters of the pugilistic ring as the
ation'wide interest III this fight would
dicate, then it is surely an anomaly
lat such exhibitions should be forbid
m by law. One would naturally sup.
'se, to see the tremendous and all. .
'rvading interest in this fight, not
NY that there would be no law
yalnst 1t, but that the law would pos
lvely favor it. and even, perhaps, of.
r bonuses for such fights.
But right there is the puzzle. The j
ltlon goes mad about great pugilis-
contest. and yet condemns e. Vet ,
u only does the prevailing public :
ntiment override in way the moral
ndemnation of pugilism, but it ap. 6
'rently sets aside for the day even ,
e Joyous sentiment of patriotic feel. 6
g that one would expect to see given
e fullest and widest expression. Not ,
lly is national patriotism obscured for
e day and all patriotic observances :
lnimized in favor of this law-con. ,
'mned prize fight, but all interest is.
inferred in it, and it looks as thougb
Nevada wishes to maintain the high.
I possible prestige among the States.
compel the lively interest of the
orld from time to time, the best
Ing she can do is not only to keen her
VS. tolerant to ,ougilism and all such
orts, but she should make special mr..
ngements to attract them, and thus
alntaln an interest for herself
roughout the States that will be c
ique and unrivaled.
SOUTHERN UTAH,S FJITIRp