The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-04
Equality Of opportunity
ShOuld Always Obtain
Coy. WOODROW WILSON.

OCEAN GROVE. N. j., July A.
Governor Wilson was the principal
speaker at the Fourth Of July cele-
bration here today. He said in part
1T Is an interesting and delightful
circumstance that the celebration OF
the Fourth of July never grows stale
with US. The birth Of the nation Will
always be for Us q memory OF thrib'
ing and transcedent interest. We can
never cease to rejoice that free gov
eminent came into existence in such
memorable circumstances on this con-
tinent, which was destined TO be de-
voted to free instItuuons. The great.
Ter the nation grows the more vital
will her early history seem to US, the
more truly significant OF the impor-
tant and memorable thinks that were
to follow.
at Is not the memories or the strug-
gle that made Us free, not the def
mite recollection OF the causes and
provocAtions OF the war OF indepen-
dence that excite US. These things
grow dim with Us. We have lost the
feeling of smali and struggling ma
ton. We have taken our place In
the great family of nations, along
side the great power whose rule we
then flung on. The bitterness OF the
struggle IL long past. We look back
20 II without resentment and deal
With the great nation from which We
then separated not only without hos
tile feeling, but with genuine cordial
ity and an affection sprung out OF
memories Of common origins and
common institutions.
yet the whole transaction seems
to grow in interest rather than TO
lose 1t. The point IL not that We re-
jected the authority OF England. The
very men who fed the Revolution
reverenced the constitution OF the
mother country, knew the long and
handsome history OF the struggle for
liberty by which II had been built
up; knew that, even In that day OF
blunders and of mistaken policies
that alienated her colonies, her gov
eminent was the freest In the world,
the model Of all peoples who then
looked to see representative govern
ment supplant the tyranny that held
other lands In Its grip. Their motive
was the permanent motive In the his
tory Of all liberty. What gives the
American Revolution its character
and distinction Ms not that the col
onies In America rejected govern
ment unsuited for England, but that
they rejected a government insult
able for themselves. The whole point
of the struggle was that the English
government could not understand
them and their affairs, could not ad.
Just its authority to their interest,
would not give them the latitude and
freedom necessary for their own de-
lvelopment, was too narrow In Its con-
ception Of authority to allow colonies
anywhere to grow to the full stature
Of vigorous states. IL was a case OF
maladjustment and OF authority ex-
ercised In a way that was not suitable
to the real circumstances and inter
ests Of those upon whom II was ex-
erted
ct was for such reasons az these
that we take leave to be proud OF
the history OF American freedom. II
has not been the pursuit Of phan-
toms. We have made slow conquests
Of opportunity. We have reverenced
,, law and yet have made It serve our
UUIUO80. WO A1NO AC8NS4 O0AAe1Se-
lions like vehicles of life and not like
mere lawyers documents. and this
because we have always known what
liz was we would be at We do not
interest ourselves In our politics be-
cause II IL q diyerting game, but be-
cause IL IL the means Of our life.
Our object Is that every man should
have his free opportunity: that no
man should enjoy privileges not open
TO HIS neighbor; that no man should
rule US without our consent: that the
instruments employed, whether poiit-
ical or economic, should be our own,
10 be used as we deemed best Our
programs have thus been always
broad, hard-headed. definitely aimed
and contrived, and we shall remain
free and powerful 30 long as we re-
tain this spirit and this method"