The Chitina leader., 1911-07-08
A SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION

That not one word of complaint
from our guests. no drunkenness or
rowdiness, and all celebration ar
rangements being carried out to the
qualification and amusement of all
who attended Independence Day ex-
ercises at Chitina. reflects great cred
it on our citizens and little town.
and the members Of the various com
mittees who were untiring in their
efforts to perfect arrangements for
a successful celebration, now feel
amply repaid for their days of hard
work since hearing the many eX-
pressions of pleasure and commenda-
ton from our visitors.
In great way our celebration diff
fered from Independence day exer-
cises held in past years, and was q
radical departure from precedent, in
that there were no long and tire
some orations, blazing fireworks,
ETC., which characterize the celebra-
lions of a few years ago. The en-
fire cracker are becoming memories
only and our old time citizens fear
that the original object of Independ-
ence day is becoming somewhat of a
farce
"A safe and sane Fourth" now
seems to be the cry, and it is I'M
II A.
long list of accidents and damages
statistice give us in past celebrations
where explosives and fire works were
the feature of the day, are indeed
appalling. Continual press comment
from year to year has been the chief
factor in suppressing the ''fires of
patriotism" as it were, but has re-
suited in untold good in the saving
of millions of dollars worth of prop
erty each year. particularly in the
crowded cities if the United States.
Again, it may be that our people
are becoming too rich. and although
We have no titles of our own the sons
and daughters of our wealthy peo-
pie are selling themselves for the
title of MY Lord" and my Lady"
Thousands of our Americans attend
ed the different celebrations on July
Fourth throughout Uncle Sans
states and territorial possessions list
ened to the reading of the declara-
ton of independence, heard able ora
lions on the constitution which de-
clares our belief that 'all men were
born free and equal, yet hundreds
of our free born and enlightened
citizens, each year flock to foreign
countries to kiss the hands and bow
the knees to men and women who by
accident of birth are declared rulers
of their countries.
There is no ruler in all the mon
archial kingdoms who is the peer
or equal of an American president
To be elected president of the United
States man must have done some
thing to show his worth, while in a
monarchial government, an idiot may
be proclaimed ruler of the people be-
cause he is the son of his father.
Good Americans believe that any
man who has succeeded in working
his way to the pinnicle of fame is
entitled and should be treated with
all honors, but the pinnacle has not
yet been established in our opinion,
that justifies an American citizen in
bending the knee, or kissing the foot
and hand of aristocrats or in fact,
kOw towing" to anyone who has
reached the top.
Those of our people who go to
England and bend the knee to the
government whose yoke we threw off
and repudiated in 1875, are not good
Americans and we only look upon
them with ridicule and contempt.
May independence day be ever OBJ
served by all loyal and patriotic
Americans.