The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-05

Amid martial strains Of music th0us-
ands Of citizens Greenwood and Le-
fore county both white and colored
today took part in demonstration
second to none in the history Of this
section Of the state. Greenwood turn
ed out enmass to do honor to the mil
lions Of young men who are today
registering for any service their Coun-
try wants them to do, and to pay tri-
butte to those who have SO nobly
volunteered their services in the sew
eral branches of the Federal arms.
A monster parade, the hosting Of
"Old Glory to the top Of a high flag
pole erected. on the Court House
House grounds, deep and stirring ad-
dress by Hon. G. 7. Fitzhugh of Mem
phis, and the presentation Of the flag
to Battery c., on behalf of the ]. z.
George Chapter, United Daughters Of
the Confederacy were the features Of
the day. The ceremonies ended just
before one o'clock. The parade start
ed from the Court House just after
the clock struck ten.
Hundreds Of cars took part in the
parade and thousand Of citizens lined
the streets and occupied placed in the
line. Two Of the features of the par
ade were a float representing the Bat
tleship Mississippi and the float Of the
Red Cross Society.
After the Flag was raised Senator
Wilmington, who acted as master Of
ceremonies, introduced the speaker of
the occasion. In making his introduc-
tory remarks Senator Wilmington al
luded to the gravity of the day and
applauded the patriotism of the Lee
fore county and Greenwood boys.
Mr.. Fitzhugh in opening his address
spoke Of Greenwood as being the most
progressive city ii Mississippi md Of
his appreciation Of the invitation to
address the people Of this county upon
such an occasion. His address was a
masterpiece. Eloquent from the first
to the last word, full Of patriotism,
with pride and with admiration for
America and her allies yet with room
for scathing denunciation Of Ger
many and her methods.
! Captain Fitzhugh paid glowing tri-
butte to the Red Cross and to the Old
Veterans. He spoke Of the work that
the Boy Scouts could do now and of
what they might have do to in the |
future. He alluded with spirit to the
patriotism which fired the young man
to enlist and to organize companies
for service.
June the fifth, he said, would be
red letter day in history. 1t is Holy
Day for those who are doing their
duty and are registering and will
prove to be day Of condemnation and
of humiliation for those who shirk
their duty, he declared. /
In glowing terms he praised the
French and their efforts for Demo-
cracy. Efforts growing direct from
the seed which Lafayett ecarried back
to that country after he had helped
America to win her freedom. He pic
tured the British as friends ever since
the war between that country and her
colonies, now the United States Of
America.
He followed the path Of Democracy
down through the ages from the time
Of its firi'st recognition in the Amer
lean Revolution to the present time
when fully four fifths Of the world
is self governed. He declared that
the only black spots Of despotism on
the face Of the globe today are Ger
many, Austro- Hungary and Turkey.
With words of fire he bitterly in
dicted the German espionage system
which while declaring friendliness for
other countries had her ambassadors "
acting as spies.
Loving tribute was paid to Belgium,
the little country whose noble resist
ance to the German invasion saved !.
great part Of France from being TAX 4
en-. He mentioned the action of Ger
man naval authorities at Manila and
and compared it with their claims as
to what the neutrals in the present
war should do.
America he declared, is not in the,
war from any debt of gratitude, she
owes France or England or because
Of petty violations of international law
but for the "very life Of Democracy"
It Is the most rnomentous undertake |
ing th&t the United States has ever
entered upon, declared Mr.. Fitzhugh.
The speaker was cheered heartily
when he declared freedom and Lib |
Is Life" s I
Mr.. Fitzhugh said that all could
help the government by aiding in sup
plying munitions and, Supplies. He
went Into details u 70 tAa numhsz sf'