The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-03

TNDEPENDENCE DAY has always L been observed as the nations dis sinctive holiday. If the spirit of patri- otism needed quickening the Fourth of July never failed to revive the ardor of all men who gloried in the stars and stripes.
 On the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by
 the Continental Con- Keyed Up for gress the document Fourth of July written by Thomas
 Jefferson and viewed "by the American people as their most precious treasure is read in many a public gathering and it's vital message is as moving in the twentieth century as it was in the long years ago; but at this time when the United States is threatened with war true American ism is finding it's fullest expression in the readiness of all loyal citizens, ire spective of party politics, to support the national administration in it's mil itary preparedness, and in the eager response of the organized militia to {, the Presidents call for troops.
 Americanism has been President Wilson's theme in all of his recent ad- dresses. In burning words he has enunciated great principles and in- terpreted to the people this country's lofty ideals. The President has stood \ for peace, but not for peace at the ex- sense of honor, and he has made It ain that if we must have war it will
 Ia war, not for conquest but to es-
 Mlish law and order and bring tran .uilty to an unhappy and bloody land.
 Tho American public has been breathing a Fourth of July atmos- pnere for sometime past, and the peo- pie will be well keyed up for tomor- rows celebration. It need not be noisy Fourth. That it will be accom- panied by festive diversions goes with out saying, but it will have a very serious side and that will be it's es- sential feature. From Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico the heart of all right thinking Americans will throb in uni son with love of country, and every able bodied American will resolve to give a practical demonstration of his patriotism should he be called upon to 'efend the national honor.
 It will be memorable Fourth.
 IF presidential campaigns and pros
 perity seldom go together this year witnesses an exception to the T4 rule. When the democrats came into control of the government on the fourth of March, 1913, opponents of '.e new administration consoled them Ives with the thought that demo- cratic ascendency te Campaign would be limited to II Prosperity four years. They
 based this idea on < che supposition that four years of democracy would mean four years of business depression; and hard times, they felt sure, would spell defeat for President Wilson.
 The republican party had found in times past that the full dinner pail was telling argument in favor of their course, and the empty dinner pail, which the protectionist leaders predicted would be widely in evidence in l1916, there could be little or no y chance for the democrats. With the republican prophecy fulfilled change in national administration would be S a logical conclusion; but as nothing of the sort has happened Mr.. Hughes campaign managers will be without the political capital that had been ' counted upon.
 . The democratic party has never lacked statesmanship, but republicans In admitting that fact have always
 oken disparagingly of democratic saders as being impractical when ,t anne to legislation affecting the gen Iral business of the country, and es- ypecially the industrial situation. But the record of the present administra-