The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-11-15
INTERPRETING A GREAT EVENT

70 the Editor OF The Gate City:
come ON last Friday and Monday that a socailed
civilized nation were ceieorauns victory N MAI
celebrated by the savage aoorigines OF this
country
AT an awful cost OF human life and treasure.
at the expense of untold human heartache and
Of human government 4 fitting expression for
the joy of the people who had gained this good
thing would have been prayers OF thanksgiving.
the singing of national airs aud a united solemn
renewal of pedSe OF good citizenship. On The
contrary, if trust the reports OF the news
papers. in all parts OF the country there were
festivities aud rude oaroasing earsspstls and
nerverackng noise, parades that Indicated niue
roai dignity and stn less the higher form of pat
riotisn,
Of cur beautiful river often echoed to the sayago
tom-toms of the Saes and Foxes as they made
merry the capture of new hunting sround
There had been physical struggle for . physiea
good and the method OF rejosoins was In keeping
On Monday II l understand srght the last four
tragic years. celebrated spiritual victory
a victory won ut the cost of the most precious
things in human experience With the enc esosp
ton OF personal honor, Surely II was time tor
's ElEANoR GORDON.
Hamilton. nl, Nov is. 1918
The Gate City has no wish to pose as Grape
hanger or a kill joy either in itself or as an at
taehment to others who may be so inclined.
On Monday morning during the general re-
ioicsng a well-known Keokuk resident SO misln-
terpretea the spirit of the crowd on the streets
that he was moved to observe that the news OF
the signing of the arlnistice and the appearance
of the dawn of peace should be received with
deep humility. True he mlslnterpre'ed wila'
he saw. The conclusion of the great struggle
surely was enough to FL the whole world VITA
deleriouS Joy. The reloiclngs IN heoSuK ana
elsewhere were not because millions OF Germans
had been killed In their war TO uphold autoe
rsev. Rather it was an acknowledgment OF
the far-reaching significance OF the termination
of the conflict. That was why the streets were
thronged with iuhilant crowds and the faces OF
men and women transngured. liz was IN emo
tional explosion altogether worthy OF The
American people, suddenly confronted VITA
realization that the great ends or justice anu
democracy were In the way OF being attained
without further blooeiSled and destruction.
Now that the American people have given
themselves over 10 the delerium OF Joy II
Thanksgiving because one step In the ladder OF
peace has been mounted. II lnsy be well when
the announcement of the signing on the great
est world document comes some time IN the
future that IL Ne reserved with all solemnlty-
Then Will he the time when we face more close
h the great task Of restoring Sood Will among
men, When. therefore. the whistles and bells
again announce peAee, let rs repair 20 our
churches there - return Thanksgiving 10 Al
mighty God and "a ask His guidance and help
for the task before rs
Bat Friday an3 Mondays rej&einss were
timely ard proper IS the oeeaSion demanded.
neei5e3lv. they were NOT born of SIT ahoriglnal
shirt, And they did Indicate the dignity and
higher form q patriotism IL an their varying
phases