Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-16
PATRIOTISM SWEEPS
CROWD AS c., 0. & P.
FLAG IS UNFURLED
MAMMOTH CROWD ATTENDS DED.
IcATiON OF INTERURBAN STAFF
STIRRING ADDRESS MADE BY
a. J. O'cONNOR AND l.. o. !
BROWNE.

j BROWNE.
/ Patriotism abounded il unstinted
quantities yesterday afternoon at the
dedication of the new iiag staff and
unfurling OF Old Glory at the interur-
/ ban car shops west Of the city An
ideal day made 1t possible for crowd
estimated at $500 to attend the eere-
/ monies and there give vent to good
cid fashioned American loyalty as on.
ly free born can.
4 Addresses that thrilled the audience
and stirred patriotic fervor to white
heat, were delivered by Attorney An
drew j. O'Colnor and Representative
Lee O'Neil Browne.
About 200 automobiles were parked
on the GROUNDS and everywhere a gala
Of American flags was displayed. A
faultless drill was executed by the
members of Company c and the high
school cadets under the command OF
.eut. Raymond. Many people for the
+ first time, saw evidence of the splen-
did training the high school youths
are undergoing and were very favor
able impressed
At the end of the drill, Edward Grif
fifth, Everett Grady and Marshal Pur-
rucker ascended the platform under
military escort to raise the flag which
f their associates had presented them.
/ They were assisted by Kenneth Sapp,
grandson of Frank NJ Sapp, veteran
( of CT. The Stars and Stripes were
unfurled as the Star Spangled Banner
was rendered by the cadet band.
I The inocation was pronounced by
4 Rev. G. w. Chessman. Mayor r. +.
/ Bradford, in his Introductory speech
expressed the hope that the example
set by the c. o. & p. Ry would be
/ followed by all of our industrial con-
Germs. He introduced Andrew j. o.
Connor who delivered splendid ora
tion.
The main thought running thru the
speech Of Mr.. OConnor referred to the
ideas OF government which the flag
CT the country represents. He claimed
there was more behind the flag than
mere sentiment and that its real sig
niGcalce and importance was the
form of government which it repre-
sented. He claimed that the ideas be-
1 hind the flag were ideas which were
subduing the world; that their prog.
ress and advancement within the past
century had gone beyond the geo.
graphical limitations of the United
States and had invaded every land
where civilization fourished or people
were struggling for larger participa-
ton in affairs of life. He stated that
one hundred years ago the ideas be-
hind the flag of this country involv-
! ing the freedom of thought, of reli-
gion and of conscience were sneered
at by the courts of Europe But that
\ today the right of an active and domi-
nant participation in the affairs of the
government had crossed the acean ana
sent the Rourbons into retirement;
that France was a republic; that the
Stuarts of England were today but
pleasing fgureheads and the royal
house OF England, so far as participat'
ing in the active control Of the gov,
ernment, had ceased to exist; that
England to all intents and purposes is
q democracy: that these same ideas
had shaken the lethargy of China and
that asst people held in subsection by
the use Of opium had shaken off thelI
lethargy and adopted our government
as the best form eXtant, that these
same ideas had aroused the peasants
of ussia held in the iron grip of a
cruel autocracy for untold centuries
and today, by the force and power OF
these ideas, this vast people are stand
ing out in the sunlight OF freedom ant
are anxiously looking to America al
their guide and example. Along thi:
same sare line he declared that these
same ideas going on IN conquerinf
march would give to the Germans, thu
Austrians, the Hungarians, the Pole!
and the Bohemians either free ant
untrammelled form Of government
stripped entirely of the divine right o
kings, or at least controlling voice
in their own destiny.
He declared that the flag of thi
country today was a flag of war; tina
the issue was clean-cut between thi
country and Germany; that neutralit
had ceased and that every citizen Il
, the broad land was either with tn
flag or against 1t, that there was n
neutral ground that anyone coul
stand upon beneath the flag or near Il
He declared that in this great contes
. upon which we are entering, and tn
end Of which no one can see, the An
erlcan citizens of German ancestr
4 will be found as loyal as patriot
4 and self-sacriiicing as those who com
3 from different stock; that in th
a day there Is no such thing as natiol
q ality when the flag of the country
|, to be defended. and that from all ii
g corners of this great and prosperol
n land freemen will respond without r
g gard to ancestry to defend and sustaI
t. the flag.
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