Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-05
INTRODUCED
ny JAMES W. GoRDOS


little after o'clock General
Chairman r McC. Burlington welcomed
the assembly TO Bon Airs hospitality
Rev. T.. 7. Mcf'adcn. -. -. invoked .hr
divine blessing. ana Colonel James w
Gordon. in burst Of cloqUcncc. intro
duccd Representative Montague. who
was received with round after round
OF applause.
The ConE.cssman took UP but a
minute with introductory remarks. and
proceeded at once 10 discuss the signi-
ticance vi this unique and remarkable
!ndrpendencc Day 2 day that comes
just a there has been = wonderful
transformation in tho affairs OF hn-
mainly. Americas independence Day
- to-day being celebrated under III"
stars and stripes all over France. and
Fresden poincare holds the hand of
President Wilson TO-DAY the Amcri-
can ilGS hangs in the streets. in tn"
cathedrals and the churches of the
city Of Rome aud Italians are being
told today of the fundamentals under
lying the work that Jefferson fash
toned Washington assured and Madison
preserved IN writing and living form.
To-day Independence Day is being
celebrated in the FRS; island that Co
lunIbus discovered. and in the coun-
tries OF South America. and for the first
time the Stars and Stripes are waving
in Westn instcr. and the day that W.
cclcbrAtc rs Also being ccIcDTdtcd Just
as heartily in all parts OF Great Brit
ain.
The very foundation stone OF the
Declaration OF independence. declared
Mr.. Montague. is the idea that gov
ernmcnts are made for men and not
men for governments. To us here in
Virginia that is 4 c. and just as
OF some other countries. Certainly
not SO in Germany. Therefore. de-
clarcd Mr.. jefferson. in concrete term",
men shall have a say as to govern
ment and its operations. We OF this
country know that and so we cele-
brate the day, not as aliens a frolir.
but with all OF the soiemnity and all
of the ardor and all of the love with
which We celebrate the birthday ami
vcrsary OF our parents.
CAUSES OF AMERICAS
ENTRANCE INTO WAR
Mr. Montague discussed at some
length the cause of this countrys par
ticipation in the war If ever ma
ton tried hard to escape war 1t was
this nation under the guidance of the
wisest. best and most patient leader
that ever lived Woodrow Wilson.
There was but one path by which we
could escape. and that was the path OF
neutrality. The family of nations laid
down the laws of neutrality and set
forth the rights OF neutral nations
The speaker then showed in much de-
tail how Germany insolently, boorish
ly and arrogantly tramplcd upon every
right of neutrality and made 1t q plain
as the mondays sun that 1t was only
question OF time when this country
must take up arms against PruSsian
autocracy. 1T was plain that Germany
had no idea OF stopping with defeat
of France or with invasion of Eng
land. Canada would come next and
. 81 -nit tntn hot
ter to fight Germany now in conjunc-
ton with France. England and Italy
than few years later fight her alone.
Better fight them over there than here
and thank Cod we are lighting then,
over there. Americas place in the
profit. for self-aggrandizcment for
loot nor for more territory, but simply
TO uphold our own rights and the
rights of mankind in general.
Mr.. Montague took up the U-boat
warfare and Germany'S outraseS on the
sea. before and since the entrance Of
America in the struggle and showed
that these things alone were sufficient
to pull us into the war and we are
in to defend in our might the same
things we fought for in our weakness
and won and established not only
for ourselves, but for all peoples.
The Congressman spoke briefly of
war legislation Of Congress and among
other things stated that when he left
Washington to attend this meeting he
was engaged in perfcctinS the plan
for taking over the telegraph and tel
cphone systems. He said the plan
was. as in the matter OF railroads. to
take them over only for the period
OF the war and then return them to
their owners.
In conclusion Mr.. Montague paid a
glowing tribute TO the boys in the
trenches. and said they are learning
things over there. and when they come
, back, as many OF them will do. they
!Hlre going to be the shapers Of the
lestiny of this country. The men who
.orc the blue and the gray have peen
ruling this country for fifty years
past and the men who are now wear