The Alaska citizen., 1917-07-09
\ NEW INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Today throughout the world Americans are celebrating the anniversary ol the birth oj potentially the greatest nation the world has ever ~een. In doing honor to those whose efforts made possible the success an cNperi- mcut that Was regarded with di,iavor by not only a large part of the outside world but also by part of those who were engaged in the effort The hardshps that our fore fathers underwear and the spirit in which thcl met and ~urmountcd difficulties is in torporated into the life of the people of the United States ~o deeply that any details are ~upcriIuous.
 During the past few years there have been many people. among them numerous Amcrican> who claimed that the American spirit was dead and rapidly being forgotten; that our patriotism had become more a mat ter oi dollars than of sacrificing love for our conn,ry and this impression was given con siderable crcdcncc in some quarters. But the recent events which followed the break with Gcrmauy prove that the real American spirit still lives and i> the guiding instinct Of d vast majority oI Americans.
 In the past our Anniversary Day has been observed with celebrations all over the couutrl from the smallest hamlcts to the largest cities, the main features of which were fireworks both real and vocal. It was the American way of taking its patriotism out Of the moth balls and giving it brush- up and q good airing before being put up in the closet for another year But under the pEroCechricaI displays and outburst> of iervid rhetoric lay the old American ideals, un- dinmcd by all our money making and the passage oi the years since its birth.
 The conditions under which we today are celebrating prove that this Is true. Am erica Is again at war, not for any selfish reasons, not to benefit itself in money or land, for no idea oI territorial expansion, but ill order that democracy may not be driven from the face oI the earth. The same prin- cplcs oI democracy that actuated the work of the founders oi the United States are again at stake and for the sake of humanity the United States has taken up the gauntlet thrown down by bureaucracy. The challenge has been accepted not 50 much i'll a spirit o1 anger as one OI grave responsibility.
 today throughout tie land Onc catches gumpoco OI lHc -AucrICan spirit Il engages Ill preparation 10 carry out to tue fullest tA- tent the task which lcN owed upon Il. from every quarter comes the sound OI men learn Ing to bear arms III the light to SuCCor dc- mOcraCy. l. ell mIIlOu o1 our young men have come forward and 5lgnl1led thelr will lngneos to sacrifice their lives for the good oI humanity and the love O1 their native land. Millions OI other men and women, unable 10 make this same offer, are as willingly and as eagerly doing those things that count for just as much i'll the struggle upon which we have just entered as actual fighting. Each American Is doing his or her bit without cayiI or murmuring criticism.
 July 4, 1917, finds the United States ItleS and rights among the other nations Ot Ithe world as nation of first rank. We are putting into practice the principle which we 1haVe always accepted i'll theory-unlVcrsal liability for military service. America has hIWays stood and now stands flor equality lfor justice; for the rights of humanity; for lIair dealings among nations; for peace It ks because of this stand that she has been fompelled to enter this war. She stood aloot bs long as there appeared to be any hope lhat these things might be secured without he appeal to arms And the measures which he has adopted and is putting into effect pn this Independence Day carry assurance o the world that democracy will triumph in khat is hoped and believed will be the final ttempt of autocracy to crush democratic
 leals out of existence Thus will Americans nsWer those critics who claimed that the pirit of our founders was dead