Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-04
July Fourth

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l himself to everything. The human soul
is limited In its emotional responsiveness.
The long poem, Poe said, is a contradiction
in terms, for the merit of the poem is not
in form and thought merely, but in the effect
1t produces on the reader, and 1t is impossible
this great poet declared-for the spirit,
however supported or Influenced, to dwell
for more than a limited period at empyrean
heights.
Familiarity may not breed contempt, but
certainly 1t deadens perception. Fear, rever-
ence, compassion, hatred. even love itself,
lose some or all of their intensity in the
constant presence Of the person or thing by
which originally they were inspired. It is
SO. to a large extent, of those anniversaries
that mark the epochs of the race. At Christ
mas we come bearing gifts, but we forget,
or recall only vaguely, that we do this in
emulation Of the Wise Men who bore such
tribute to the Savior of mankind. The natal
days of our heroes we celebrate with feasting
and merriment, instead of in that high exal-
tation Of purpose with which the memory
OF their deeds should animate our being.
Thanksgiving is an occasion for sumptuous
dinners and football contests, rather than
for carrying a humble, contrite and grateful
heart to the throne OF the Giver Of all good.
1t was not surprising to the thoughtful,
therefore,. that the Fourth Of July had fallen
into evil ways. If it has been rescued to
some extent from the dissertation of empty
noise, If its celebration has been more re-
strained and appropriate, this has been due
more to considerations Of safety than to any
real reform In intellectual or emotional
habit.
But the American people does not lack
patriotism, and this day we are to observe
Is a new Fourth Of July, baptized once more
In the blood of heroes and Of martyrs. On
this anniversary Of American liberty there
fcctn1 from fhn lo,l 49, - -, IL i.
German treachery and cruelty a new and
stirring appeal to the conscience of the ma
ton. They cry aloud from the depths OF
the sea, that the freedom for which the
fathers gave most precious lives, and In as
sorting which they themselves died, shall
not-must not-be lost to the world.
Is not this a day, therefore, for a new
Declaration Of American Independence? The
old declaration held as self-evident truths
that 'all men are created equal. that thew
are endowed by their Creator with certain un-
alienable rights, that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
There is not one Of these self-evident truths
TO which the very existence and the whole
course and temper Of the German autocracy
do not stand in constant and defiant negation.
Men are not created equal, this autocracy
proclaims. save perhaps in that equality
which would make them the puppets and
unwilling slaves OF the War Lord. Their
lives are not theirs OF right. but continue
only at his sufferance. Their liberties he
assumes to hold in the hollow Of his hand
and to dispose of as he will. For happiness,
without shadow OF excuse, he has exchanged
the misery. the shame. the infinite terror and
humiliation which Belgium knows.
II we are truly independent of this Moloch.
.-horrid King. besmeared with blood
or human sacrifice and parents tears.
we shall meet him sword in hand. He and
that he typihes and symbolizes are the very
antithesis Of all that is American. We are
at war with him now in stern fact, but we
must always have been at war with him in
spirit. That he should wrong w is natures
law, for day and night may not exist to-
gether, nor truth and falsehood, nor gentle
ness and cruelty, nor liberty and oppression.
Let us, then, to-day renew the covenant
our fathers made. and for the protection of
that heritage of liberty which they bequeathed
us, and which is the worlds scarcely less
than our own, let us mutually pledge to
each other our lives, our fortunes and our
sacred honor!