The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-05

OBSERVANCE AT PARK

Part.
rorrth of July was observed In
LINK Yesterday by one OF the quiet
n.or davs in the history Of this an
e es There were no serious
a nnc;dents reported. some few people
INA firecrackers too long or got their
noSes too close to sputtering fuses,
s su,s The burns were not serious
wv oh tn require more. than ele-
mantarv first aid The city was not
=. noisy as usual, and either hard
.imas or patriotism, or perhaps both,
c er. the amount of fireworks
usually burned up Fourth OF July
The celebration at the park at
tracted big assemblage of people.
+ was in the nature Of the old
fashioned Fourth with music and
s,eaking, and picnic baskets and the
Ike Rand park was crowded with
neonle who went out in the after
noon to hear the program by the
Community band, and to have picnic
supper. and then to enjoy the even
inc program which consisted of a
drill by Company L. and another
band concert.
John &. Craig Speaks.
In the afternoon, John E. Craig OF
this city, made an address in which
| he spoke Of this nation being engaged
in war for world democracy.
Mr.. Craig delivered a half hours
| address He departed from the usual
sterotyped Fourth of July grafton,
and discussed eloquently the present
war conditions. Cheers greeted his
reference to the sinking Of German
U boat by the destroyers guarding
the transports carrying the last Of
Pershing's troops, and the safe land
ing of the troops without the loss Of
single man.
He said that when Germans brought
up their big gun and fired the first
shot at Belgian forts, and thus start
! ed the greatest war known in ali
history no one dreamed that within
period of a little more than two
years and half America would be
forced into the conflict.
During that period events had
transpired unlike events ever Before
recorded in the history OF the world.
It was not possible for human wis
dom to foretell them. Likewise it
was impossible for any human agency
on this side of the Atlantic, at least,
TO forestal1 them.
To Keep Out Of War.
1T had been the fervent wish and
earnest prayer of every true Ameri-
can that his country might be spared
the horrors of war. We have shud-
dered as we have looked upon the
terrible conflict in Europe and thank
ed God that we had no part in it.
But with every days Development as
the awful struggle went on, we had
seen ourselves unwillingly brought
nearer and nearer to the time when
We too must grid on our armor and
take our stand on the side OF dem
ocracy against autocracy. That hour
mas come. We are now engaged in
war-a war not of our own seeking
and one which we would have gladly
aVoided--a war forced upon us, be-
cause we would not and could not in
honor to ourselves and our country,
submit to injustice"
Tie said no country could have
zone more to maintain peace than
ours had done, and no country could
90 less than ours had done in accept
ing the gauge of battle when every
other expedient save submission to
wrongs proved unavailing. He said
no man in all the world desired more
TO preserve peace, than President
wilson, and no man could have done
more than he had done to keep the
natlon out OF war. AS the country is
grateful to him for his heroic efforts
70 retain friendly relations with all
me world, SO too, it applauds and
aamires him for his courage in as
sorting and defending its rights when
.nese efforts have failed through no
lault of his own.
he said this nation stands behind
1im TO the last man, to the last dol
iar,, and to the last ounce of resource,
q. what may in the struggle for
me "a preservation of the rights and
Tue maintenance of its honor.
:, Acts Of Intolerance.
ne recited the acts Of intolerance
MIL nith which Germany had assailed us.
recurring the brutality to our men,
women and children and the insults
anu aggression of the German govern
elt and the patience and forbear.
a. with which we had met them,
, "nu the Ignoring OF our just demands,
It'll the point was reached when pa
lei. ,etce ceased to be virtue and the
only alternative was war.
ne said that in our hearts and pur-
uses we are not at war with the
, uerman people but we are at war
WIN The despotic and autocrattc Ger
nan government, to whom the Ger
. nan people are "but as pawns upon
nv me chessboard' of relentless fate. |
M me great masses Of the German PEG.
De haves nothing in common with I,
|. ,usslan militarism whose battles
thy are forced to fight and for which
~" ..y,, are compelled to suffer and die. |
MI. Wnen this war is ended as hap
p py II Will be the sooner by reason