The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-07-05
A GLORIOUS FOURTH

''It Independence Day. ought to be
commemorated as the day of deliver
anee, by solemn acts of devotion to God
Almighty. 1t ought to be solemnized
with pomp and parade, with shows,
games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires
and illuminations, from one end of this
continent to the other, from this time
forth and forever more. !"
So spoke John Adams more than a
century ago. When the PRESIDENT s
words were uttered then, the United
States of America had not yet extend
ed its frontiers beyond the Appalach-
ian range to any great extent, but yes
terday, if the spirit of Adams watched
over his beloved land, grown beyond
the comprehension of the most optim-
istic prophet of colonial days, he saw
his wish realized to the fullest.
For in every hamlet, in every me-
tropolis and in every countryside yes
terday, Independence Day was given
such celebration as has not been since
the Liberty Bell tolled out its news to
set new pace for world Democracy.
The new spirit seized on us here in
Hood River and we paid tribute to the
memory of Washington, of Lincoln and
all the continental soldiers who fought
with Green, with Nathan Hale and
with Morgan. We were made to think
of the great battles of 1876, when
we grappled among ourselves, settled
our dispute and preserved the United
States of America free to be the arbi-
ter of the destinies of human liberties
for the world.
We celebrated as an evidence of the
new glory of our nation, awakening as
one man TO the call to come forth,
give of our property and shed our
blood that justice may be done for all
peoples and that ruthless autocracy
may be made to perish forever off the
face of the earth. We saw our rs fine,
outstanding lads, the best of the land,
go swinging by in their khaki, re-
spending, 1.-THE in limb and with spark
ling eye, to the commands of their
officers, all our men, and we were
prouder than we have ever been on a
Fourth of July. Those boys, within
ten days will probably have been
called to the colors, and there will be
some pangs when they go, but we
would not recall them, for we know
that they are going to battle that this
terrible war may soon be ended and
that such atrocities as the boche has
been repeatedly guilty of may never
be participated in again.
We were made to think of the 600
young men of the Hood River Valley,
some 40 of whom will be serving their
country before this winter has de-
posted its SHOWS DER the mid Colum-
bia. Six hundred here, out of 10, ZOO,
900 throughout the entire nation. We
thought of all these things and of the
valor of the 10000, 900 potential sol
diers, and we were given sense of
security. While vast is the work that
must be done, perhaps, before our
great universal service army is in the
field, we know that with our nation
aroused as she is, as was evidenced by
the spirit displayed yesterday at every
hamlet from Bangor, Me-, to Calexico,
Cal, and from Clelam, Wash, to Mi
ami, Fla, William, the Hohenzollern,
modern exponent of ruthlessness.. that
would put to shame Atilla, is doomed.
Nor did we forget the valiant boys OF
Hood River, nearly 40 of them, who
are already away at the front, or in
training. our noble volunteers. I'm
stinted was our honor and praise yes
terday, as their names were called ant
the notations made that they were
away in the four corners of the world
already in the front line, or at least
ready for that duty of holding back
the foe until larger forces may be
marshalled for the final stroke OF
crushing the monster that would de-
stroy the worlds civilization.