The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-07-02
OUR INDEPENDENCE.
By MARGARET E. SANCsTER

sometimes wonder whether we
prize as We ought the great boon of
independence under our flag. Surely
we have little of which to complain
at THIS hour. The independence
which Is the special boast and pride
or Americans and which moves us
all to demonstration when the Four
tn OF July returns is as precious
10 women as to men. blesses their
nome lives and conveys to them a
great many privileges. Ask the ord
mary child who is the most import
ant person in the family and the
answer is usually why mother. of
course Ask an American hus-
band to name the power behind the
throne In his home. and he replies
without hesitation: "My wife"
When Abraham Lincoln was nominat-
ed for the presidency he said to the
group around him: "There is a
little woman at home. who will be
glad to hear this" 1t is the little
woman at home who sends the hus-
band forth day by day to his fields
of endeavor; it is she for whom he
tolls, and it is she whose ideals in
woman at home molds her boys and
girls into whatever shape she pleases
Why not? God and mother have
the children first before any other
influence can touch their lives. II
our women are absorbed in trivial
ties, If they care little about honor,
duty or conscience. if they are vain
and consider dress and luxury as
more important than education and
piety. If they scOrn simplicity and
put tie emphasis of conduct on
show. they cannot help dragging
down the men. Few men have
higher standards than the women
nearest them, mothers, wives. sisters
and daughters. If our country is
to degenerate, if we are to love it
less and think more of amassing
wealth than of standing together as
our fOrefathers did, for virtue and
freedom, the blame must be laid at
the door of our women. Women
should be patriotic. Napoleon con-
densed a great truth into single
word when he said In reply to the
question:: What does France most
need?" He said, tersely, Mothers.
We are on the eve of anOtherln-
dependence day. In my early girl
hood, the Fourth of July was hailed
with enthusiasm by old and young.
Children walked in procession be-
hind soldiers. and bands or music to
the town hall or grove. or some
.stiier designated place. and here
everybody sang patriotic songs and
everybody listened while a Judge.
minister, or it might be the COVER
nor of the state, read the declaration
OF Independence.
The orator of the day. in flowery
sentences, reminded us Of our his
tory, of our pledges to the world
and of our grand opportunities. lie
did not forget to tell us of the grow
ing splendOr of our galaxy or states'
of our rivers, our mountain range
our mines rich in coal or copper
or silver, of our great fields from
which the granaries of the wide
earth could be supplied. and of the
bravery of the men who fought un-
der Washington. One and all we
reyered John Hancock and the oth-
er signers of the Declaration. ana
the thought of that gallant group
of gentlemen who took their rate
in their hands when they met IN
philadelphia in 1916. made every
Young heart beat faster. The httie
girls wore white dresses with sashes
and shoulder knots of red ana Diue
rihbon. and the boys wore whlte
trousers and blue jackets with GIT
buttons. and had silk badges anu
rosettes of red, white and blue pm
nod IN their breasts. There were
saIutes. there was good deal VI
noise. there was the cracking Oh
torpedoes, and, too, there was the
snanning of firecrackers. but no
hodv minded the clamor. EveryDouy
In these days tries to get away rom
the noise, and it is very mucn 'ne
sasbion to deplore 1t and declare 1t
crude. barbaric and foolish mus 70
Celebrate the glorious Fourth.
when 7 was girl we did not miho
haing In the very heart or the
noise and | can remember well ina,
,ha old people of that day chJoyeu
=, ali as merrily as their juniors oiu'
We may be patriotic without III,
,,Isine in dangerous explosives ana
,;tbout Investing in casualties tha'
90 often have mS"red our ceieoi"
tiOn or lnuepeuuo"|S oh,,;ouc
What deprecate is an oovio"n
,ndifference on the part OF too many
women to pride in their county, sH
and love of the flag. There are 80
many other attractions. there is 80
m,ucb else to be done. and lie 10
90 interestingly complex that we eo
not take the trouble to instii in.o
tha children an adortaion for the
sn;, and strong determination ai-
vavs TO stand firmly for their pan-
nar of stars. Sir Walter Sco''
wrote thrillingly:
lives there a man with soul so deau
Who never to himself hath sara. !,
This is my own, my ha'i'e
should we visit Europe TO-DAY I'VE we
vould find the highlander ana .he ne
,"wiander intensely devoted 10 .ma
,mountains and glens and rusisins sims
atraams of Scotland; we wouia l,.s
sur Enslishman proud of his moors DE
ama fens and cliffs, SO that let mn,
an az where he may he always looHs -
81 Euulaud and thinks ol