Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-26
FOURTH OF JULY TO Be
F|TT|NCLY OBSERVED
Celebrations Will BE Dedicated to
1mpressing People With Sig
nificancc Of Events.
TO FOLLOW UNIFORM PLAN
State Council Of Defense Issues State.
ment as to Spirit in Which Occa-
sion Should BE Approached-Win
Arrange for Speakers.

With America at war with Germany
the aim of which is to make tho world
SAFE for democracy, the Fourth of July
celebrations in Virginia this year will
be dedicated to the purpose Of i'm
pressing the people everywhere with
the new and deeper significance of the
event which heraldcd to the world the
coming of government by the people.
Instead OF the usual noisy demon
STATIONS. conveying only superficial
M ming. the day will be marked by
solcmnity throughout Virginia COM
mensurate with the solemn purpose OF
this war. The State Council of De-
tense is working out a plan of cclc-
bration which it will urge TO he car
ricd out wherever citizens conSreEate
IN honor of the day. Prominent speak
ers Will address the crowds on the is
sues OF the war.
Leading officials in every city and
town viii receive this week the fol-
lowing statement from the council:
THIS coming Fourth of July should
he observed throughout the land in n
spirit which recalls all the significance
OF Inc day to democracy at war
for its ideals and its threatened exist
encc Noise and useless display and
illumination and unthinking celebra-
non of every sort have no proper place
III times such rs these. let there be
4 return TO those ceremonies and ad-
dresses which prevailed in other days
CITIZENSHIP TAKES on
NEW SIGNIFICANCE
Citizenship has taken on to-day y
new significance as service not for
those in the ranks alone. but for every
CIVILIAN Sacrifices will he asked on
The battle line and behind it. It would
be utter futility TO prepare our nation
Tor the tasks that confront il by fire
crackers and sky:ockets and rhetorical
Boosting.
Let the ceremonies this year con-
tam message TO the better spirit Of
america. Give our people the solid
tacts that bring home to them the
issues Of this war as Americas war.
not by its own seeking. but because
IL was thrust upon US by an insolencc
that has Haunted every standard or
national and international morality and
violated In succession every pledge 1t
made u.s.
This is the nations day. but the
springs of national life are IN the
community where ncIghbor meets
nciGhbor and each helps the other in
conference on their common interests
The Independence Day of 1917 should
problems and responsibilities of our
great democracy at war.
CARRY TO EVERY HOME
REAL GRAVITY OF ISSUES
Every organization should cooper
ate TO make 1t such celebration as
Will carry to every home and every
| element among our people the gravity
of issues that strike to the very root
OF the nation born 14l years ago and
dedicated TO freedom. We are engag-
cd to-day in a struggle which will de-
termine whether the ideas on which our
republic was founded shall survive. No
oettcr service can he rendered than by
n thoughtful exposition Of our direct
and vital interest in the successful Is
sue of the war that involves the per-
pctuity of free governments and ma
tional Independence
Lot every citizen and every COM
munity in the Old Dominion set aside
this birthday of the nation to the
solemn duty OF consecratinE them
selves and all they have and are to the
great task Of making world in which
they and their chldrcn's children may
dwell under the flag or their fathers
free from the menace of militarism and
happy in the possession of land
dedicated anew on the worlds battle
line OF democracy TO self government
and human rights"
The Virginia council is arranging
for speakers at many Fourth of July
celebrations at the request of those In
charge of the ceremonies. and is get
ting together material to be sent TO
those who want it