The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-04
That Among These Are
Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness"

TuISult VI I1dppiIiSSs
We hold these truths to be selt-evident-
that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain In
aIienable rights. that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit OF happiness
So reads the Declaration of Independ
snce, the signing of which we celebrate
today.
II prescribes in the few words quoted
the fundamental principle of our govern
ment, which holds that life is sacred
thing and that all possible safeguards
should be thrown around it for its pro-
lection.
It prescribes, for mans liberty, his
right to go and come, at his will, and
with safety when out OF doors, and in
ibis connection the course is described
for him, from place to place, along high
ways which are maintained by the state
and in which every man has an equal
right.
In the pursuit of happiness men &C.
0uire automobiles, to provide relaxation.
comfort and fresh air for themselves and
their families, and to drive along these
prescribed courses of nights or Sundays,
enjoying the liberty it was declared they
should have, but obligated, in case Of
meeting another man driving toward
them in the same highway, TO turn 10
H. right and give him HIS equal right
there.
The principle of our form Of govern
msnt is nowhere more clearly set forth
than in this law of the road.
Wen:
"A free-born American citizen and an
other freedom American citizen, with
their wives, drove out of Detroit, Sunday,
10 Birmingham, in the automobile Of one
Of these free-born American citizens.
On the way to Birmingham they met
many automobiles driving toward them.
A slight turn of the steering wheel of
thsir car, to the right, and slight turn
Of the steering wheel of the approaching
automobile, to the right, was all that was
necessary to permit of safe passage as
car after car came along, and the trip
over the newly-paved, but narrow road,
and out into the pure air of the country
and past the rich scenery in this part of
the country was most enjoyable.
On the homeward trip, along the same
road, the automobile occupied by these
free-born American citizens again met
several other cars, and all went well un-
Z I'll IN auto came along at terrific pace,
bearing down upon them on THE
WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.
The freedom Americans driving with
their wives, on the side of the road pre-
\ sc1ibed by law, and according to the big
principle of our Declaration of Independ-
ence, reasoned, of course, that the auto
approaching would eventually take its
proper side, but it didn't.
It crashed into them, head on.
And after one of these free-born Amer
lean citizens had been picked up dead.
\ and the other free-born American citizen
with the wives of the two, one of whom
was In dying condition, had been rushed
10 . hospital, the reason for the inter-
ruption Of these two American citizens
IN the enjoyment of life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness was found in the
smashed automobile that had jammed
INTO them. In the auto there were TWO
A CASES OF BEER AND TWO QUARTS
OF WHISKY.
Are we on solid ground here, do YOU
think, in turning this tragedy of the
highway, due to BEER and WHISKY
Into m Independence Day editorial. anc
4 e)aIming for IL connection with the dec
Hrotion signed by our forefathers on,
(. bundred and forty years ago?
VI think that We are.
~ er ths reason chat the drunken oc