The Cordova daily times., 1918-07-06
INDEPENDENCE
FOR WORLD IS
WILSON : AIM


l. F. Ziegler:
Gentlemen: | am today in receipt
of the following telegram from hi
rector Blair:
president Wilson has asked the
Four Minute Men to present the at
tached message for him to audiences
on the Fourth of July. Please have
message forwarded to all Alaska or
CARNATIONS:
"'"You are met. my fellow-citlzens,
to commemorate the signing of the
Declaration of independence. which
marked the awakening of IA new spirit
il he lives D: nations since the birth
of our republic we have seen the
spirit grow We have heard the de
mand and watched the struggle for
self-government spread triumphant
among many people. We have come
to regard the right to political liberty
as the common right of human kind.
Year after year within the security
of our borders we have continued to
rejoice in the peaceful increase of
freedom and democracy throughout
the world. and yet now suddenly we
are confronted with a menace which
endangers everything that we have
won and everything the world has
won in all its old insolence. With all
its ancient cruelty and injustice. mill
tary autocracy has again armed itself
against the pacific hopes OF men. HAY
ing suppressed self-government among
its own people by an organization
maintained in part by falsehood and
trcachery, 1t has set out To impose its
will upon neighbors and upon us. One
by one it has compelled every civilized
nation in the world either TO toregO
It's aspirations or to declare war in
their defense. We find ourselves
fighting again for our national exist
ence. We are face to face with the
necessity OF asserting anew the fun
dameHtal right of free men to make
their own laws and choose their own
allegiance or else permit humanity to
become the victim OF a ruthless ambi-
ton that is determined to destroy
what 1t cannot master. Against its
threat the libertyloving people of
the world have arisen and allied them
selves. No fear has deferred them
and no bride OF material well-being
has held them back They have made
sacrifices such as the world has never
known before. and their resistance in
the face OF death and suffering has
proved that the aim which animated
the German effort can never hope to
rule the spirit of mankind against the
horror of military conquest. against
the emptiness of living in mere bodily
contentment, against the resolution of
becoming part of state that knows
neither truth nor honor The world
mas so reNolted that even people long
dominated and suppressed by force
have now begun to stir and arm them
selves. Centuries of subjugation have
not destroyed the racial aspiration of
the many distinct peoples OF eastern
Europe, nor have they accepted the
sordld ideas of their political and
military masters They have sur.
vlved the slow prosecutions of peace
as we'll as the agonies of war and now
demand recognition for their inst
claims to autonomy and self-goyern.
ment Representatives of these races
are with you today, voicing their 10y.
atty to our ideals and Offering their
services in the common cause. ask
you fellow citizens, to unite with
hem in making this our Independence
lay the first that shall be consecrated
o Declaration of Independence for
I'll the peoples OF the world "
This is a personal message to us
rom the President of the United
States, who sends it directly to all
Four Minute Men Its Importance as
a public statement made by the
worlds leading statesman is self-evi-
lent, and We should cndeavor to live
up to the occasion, and give it spe.
rial attention on our Independence
lay. Yours sincerely.
OR. +. ROBERTSON.
Territorial Chairman for Alaska" .