Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-07-01
The Fourth of July.


thusiasm and JOY the heart of every
true and loyal American. But it is |
not the American alone really that re- !
joices on this day. Tie people of the
different nations who are scattered |
far and wide throughout this great |
country all join in the spirit of pat |
riotism, and they too make merry. |
And it is right and proper that they
should do so, because, if this country
is prosperous to-day and offers them
opportunities which they would never
have had in their own countries, il is
due TO the freedom and independence
that it gained years ago on this me-
morable date.
To celebrate the Fourth Of July is
good thing. The birth of this nation
shall never pass unObSeryed. This
country would lose much should it
fail to commemorate it. The import
ant question, however, is not whether
this date should or should not be eel
ebrated, but how is it to be celebrat-
ed.
AS John Adams foresaid in the let
ter he wrote to his wife, America in
the years gone by has celebrated the
Fourth of July with "parades, shows,
guns, bells, bOnfires and illumina-
tons; but-sorry to say tit has
made it also day of intemperanee, a
day in which many have abandoned
themselves TO all sorts of excuses,
not giving single thought to what
also John Adams expected, that is, to
celebrate it wit. prayer"
Fortunately in the recent years
right-thinking Americans have awak-
ened to the fact that it is not becom-
| ing this nation that such an event
| should be celebrated that way. Last
year in many parts of the United
States an endeavcr was made to cele-
brate it more apprOpriately-it was
made an Americanization day, day
in which every true American by
words and conduct would show to the
foreigners who are in this land what
America stands for and what the
American ideals are.
In my Judgment that was great
step forward that America made.
This country is politically free, but it
is not so yet mOrally-it is not yet
free from ignorance and superstitions.
Many of the foreigners who now are
among us and undoubtedly will soon
become citizens of this land have not
received a proper training in their
own countries, will be menace to
the welfare of this country, as long as
they remain the way they are. So it
is the duty of every American citizen
for the good of this country to try to
educate and enlighten these people
who are willing to follow the right
way if it is shown to them. There is
no better time to begin such noble
work than on this Fourth of July. II
will be the best expression that can
be given to true patriotism.
The next great question is: How tc
do such work? Some one has already
tried by holding before them Wash
ington, Lincoln or some other great
man as the ideal American citizen
The suggestion that want to make
is, to hold before them one who il
greater than Washington, greater
than Lincoln, greater than any mar
that this country has ever produced
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ and Hii
Gospel can do for these people what
no man can. Jesus Christ and His
Gospel will surely make good citizens
out of them; He and He alone is "tht
truth, the way and the life" and il
Him "are all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge hidden"
May this Fourth of July bring show
ers of blessings on the readers of thii
paper, on all the people of this com
munity and on the country as whole
may it be for all starting point to
ward a life consecrated to the nObles
and highest ideals.
FRANCISCO DE SIMONE.