Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-07-05
WORLD CONFLICT THEME
Representative Yenable Delivers Able
Address at Patriotic Celebration
Held Yesterday From Balcony Of
Chamber Of Commerce.

Representative ". W. Venable, Mis-
sissippi, yesterday morning delivered
the oration at the Fourth Of July
celebration held from the balcony of
the rooms of the Chamber OF Com
merce under the auspices Of that or
ganzation.
The speaker referred to the fact
that l42 years ago yesterday the char
ter of human Liberty was written, and
he said: To-day we have another
great Virginia fighter to preserve the
principals enunciated in the Declara-
ton of independence.
Representative Venable said: Every
man. unless he is pervert OF some
sort, loves his country, and it is no:
only essential that we have patriotic
'ncling and emotion, but to have the
. lotto will. We cannot bear the
70, s unless We realize that the
cat =. worthy of the sacrifice"
Pi'ioi to 1914 the speaker declared
there was peace all over the earth
and without apparent cause the world
was plunged into vortex of war.
\ description of the invasion of Bel
nilIm was given by the speaker which
he declared was violation Of all in
ternational law on the part Of Ger
many. Solemn treaties, he said, were
treated by Germany as mere scraps
of paper. Extracts from books anC
papers written by German authors
and German politicians showing theil
philosophy to be that it is right and
proper for stronger governments t
prey on weaker ones were cited by
him. These arguments heSdeclared tc
be fallacious.
Germany. he said, mad been prepar
ing for this war for forty years. the
autocratic class having started it tc
conquor Europe and eventually tho
world.
The speaker then told the story o.
the beginning Of the great conflict
telling first of the unreasonable de
mands made upon Servia by Austri:
finally coming down to the entrance
Of America into the great struggle
America, he declared, had bat twt
courses left open. one the question Of
submission ard the other of fighting
Representative Venable ASSERTED
that we are fighting as truly in self
defense as any other nation and alsC
for oGr own personal freedom tt
eradicate from the world philosophy
which would eventually subiugate us.
Concluding his talk the speaker
said: The young men of Amcrica
are just as truly fighting for freedom
as any of the Crusaders Of old. II
We, at home. give proper support som,
day they will come marching home
with victory perched OH their banne
and they will be the ones who have
driven TO limbo the heart Of Prussian-
ism"
The exercises were presided ovel
by Robert l.. Payne, president of the
Chamber Of Commerce. who made a
short patriotic address.
Gardner l.. Boothe read a four
minutes address from President vii
son. Mr.. Boothe is chairman Of the
Four Minute Men for Alexandria.
Leo p. Harlow read a gableGram
from Somewhere in France" to tn,
Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation.
Alexandria, Va. signed "Pershing," as
follows:
"The launching of about 100 ships
Oh the Fourth of July is the most IL
spring news that has come TO Us.
All ranks of the army in France Senj
their congratulations and heartfelt
thanks to their patriotic brothers in
the shipyards at home. No more de-
fant answer could be given TO tn
cnemy's challenge. With such back
ing we cannot fail to WIN All Hall
American shipbuilders."
In connection with the shipbuilding
company here Mr.. Payne said that II
is the duty Of our citizens TO assist tha
shipyard employees here. and he hop2d
all would give them their united all
and support.
The occasion was enlivcncd by mus
ic furnished by the band from Camp
Humphreys.
Representative Cannon and Pad
cett were unable to attend.
At the conclusion of the exercises
many persons present inspected the
handsome new quarters of the Cham
her ,f Commerce.