The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-13
INTERrNDEPENDENcE DAP.
Further Report Of an Interesting Dis.
play Of Sentiment and Oratory.

The crowded cables could bring but
little account OF the memorable cele.
bration Of our Fourth of July in Cen
trail Hall. London. close by the House,
OF Parliament; the first official British
celebration OF our Independence Day
called In his speech there "Interinde.
pendence Day" by Major George
Haven Putnam OF New York. A
stenographlc report OF the proceed.
ings reveals the fact that some OF the
distinguished speakers did some talk
ing characterized by plainness M
much as by eloquence. and that others
refraineh from cherished platitude,
about common speech and common
Milton to make interesting sug.
gestions as to what would have hap
pened politically in this land IL the
"Prussianized Ministers of George
III. had not driven the Colonies to
war for indie pendence. e.. s'
The great meeting was presided
over by Viscount Bryce, who reminded
his audience that "for many years the
day was celebrated In the United
States with hostility and defiance. BY
us in Great Britain It was remembered
with sorrow as marking the sever
ance OF precious ties. And now, after
142 years it is being celebrated by
both peoples with enthusiasm" Hav-
ing thus amiably started the speaker
plunged into conjecture. saying:
1t may be thought that IL some political
connection had been preserved. two things
At least would have been gained. Ths
war OF isi2-an unmixed evil for both
nations would have been avoided. and
though the North American Colonies u ouid
soon have become practically self-govsru-
ing. as Is Canada to-day, the mediation OF
the mother country would probably have
averted the war Of secession. and secured
tho peaceable extinction OF negro slavery.
On the other hand, It may have been well
for US, and for the world, that no one
State so powerful as Britain and America
united in one would have been. should
have grown up A State so immensely
strong might have been led into aEgres.
sion and Injustice by the thirst for world
dominion--a passion whose fata! conse-
ouences We see in the moral degradation
OF Prussianized Germany.
Winston Churchill was most elo-
quent Of all the speakers. and in his
appreciation of the meaning and CT
feet OF our entrance into the war more
nearly approached eXaltation in ora
torical pitch when he said: mo event
since the beginning of the Christian
era has been more likely to strengthen
and restore faith I'm the moral govern
ance OF the universe than the arrival
from the other end OF the world of
these mighty armies OF deliverance.
One has a feeling that it Is not all a
blind struggle; It is not all for moth
ing: not too late Is the effort: not in
vain do heroes die"
Churchill bad Just returned from
the front, and this impression he gave
of his view there OF our soldiers he
gave within a few days OF our first
great independent thrust at the
enemy. 1t may well be that he, a
member OF the War Cabinet. had then
some knowledge of what Foch had
asked Pershing to do:
\ million American soldiers are in Eu-
rope. They await at this moment the fu-
rious onslaught OF the common foe, and
that Is an event which In the light of all
that has led up to II, and In the light OF
all that must follow from Il. seems-I say
II frankly--;o transcend the limits Q.
purely mundane things II is woaic..ul
event: II il prodigious event: II Is al
most miraculous event. |. Nils us II
Ais me, with sense o. the deepest awe
Amid the carnage and confusion OF the
immense battlefield. amid all the grief and
destruction which this war is causing and
has still to cause. there comes over even
the mos. secular'y minded OF US a feeling
that the world II being guided through
all this chaos 70 something far better than
we have ever yet enjoyed. We feel in the
presence OF great design Of which we
only see small portion. but which is de-
velnp!ns and unfolding swiftly a; this
moment. and OF which we are the honorcd
servarts and the necessary Instruments in
our generation.
Major Putnam, civil war veteran,
did not resist the perfect opportunity
To give dig or two at his fellow
celebrants:
American colonists" he said. were
simply maintaining what they he
lieved TO be their rights against the
attempts OF king who while English
by birth was working with Prussian
methods and theories TO establish au-
tocratic government in hnlerica as
he had succeeded i'll establishing
rule upon England" OF
Is12: III the authorities in Downing
Street had been n little more truth
'ul," and of 1861: There was again
'ull measure Of stupidity in Downing
Street"
But the Major. having thus re-
his mind OF something which
nay long have irritated It, said many
gracious things TO and OF his audience.
An interesting meeting. married only
~ the cruelty complained of by Ad-
niral Sims. They have expressed
heir sympathy with the soldiers in
he trenches and the seamen on the
sea-" he said, ''hut have neglected
he military man who Is called upon
o make a speech"