Bisbee daily review., 1918-07-07
FINE ADDRESS
 IS DELIVERED
 BY [. I. KNAPP
Local Man Outlines Duty Of America in War Before Large Audience Gathered at Warren Park Thursday

In an eloquent address, delivered at the Warren Park Thursday evening, Cleon T. Knapp struck the keynote of America in the war for liberty and democracy
 He said:
 Today is the birthday of a mighty nation. With the exception of the birthday of our Savior, no other day has ever been so universally observed. In Italy, where centuries ago Caesars legions won victories, today is being observed. In France, where Joan of Arc brought glory to the banners of France-where Napoleon stilled a mob and built for himself an empire, today is being honOred. In England, where the divine rights of kings disappeared with the head of Charles tine Second where the Magma Charta was born, today is being revered. England-the nation from whence We came-the na- ton which gave us biTth-the nation against whom we fought a war of in dependence-nOw hOnors this birthday of our nation. Why do those peoples, and other peoples so acknowledge Us. It is because this nation gave birth to a new idea, a new thought in govern ment-because it gave birth to a real democracy And mOre-it is because through a century and a half it has struggled to perpetuate the ideals of democracy-an in this present world crisis, when democracy is on trial. has so nobly responded Those nations over there honor and respect this day because that flag is in this hour way ing glOriously with the banners Of the Allies on the slopes and under the shadows of the Alps, in the forests along the Marne, and through the marshes of Flanders. That flag, hon. cred and respected. speaks for a mieh- ty nation of over one hundred millions of people and carries a message of cheer and confidence to its Allies. which sounds the death knell of Prus- sian military autccracy.
 That flag, to which they pay tribute today, is the symbol of our national life. It represents our aspiratiOns-it pictures our hOpes-it is the emblem of our national ideals-Our strength and purpose. IL is what we make ft. It is glorified by our lofty attachments it is sullied by our failures. l. waves over us here as a guarantee of demo cratic rights-it calls to the peoples of other nations. Its dreams are the dreams of a mighty people. It has nev- CT entered a conflict except on the side of right IL has never known de feat-and through the living God who made us, never will. It is greater than the eagles under which the Roman Empire fought-grander than the cres- cents of the Saracenic race-nobler than the banners of the Crusaders of the Middle Ages. more beautiful in har mony of cOlOrs and what it represents than any national emblem that flies. l wish that I might bring some mes sage-present sCme thOught-picture some ideal-that would tell the story of the flag, but l feel unequal to the task Its story stretches from " mouth Rock to Flanders. Its story is the story of a million heart aches and a million cheers-of the thunder of bat tlefields and the quiet Of humble fire sides-of rich and poor, the story of the millions of Q race whose efforts through century and mere have made real the dreams of the common people.
 It is the growth of thought that makes history. Autocratic and demo- cratic thought have clashed. and when this great conflict fades into history. one or the other will be supreme. Un- less democracy represents the higher ideals and loftier purposes, and can make its way more effective-it must bow to autocracy. The modern Hun is no better than the ancient Hun. led by Atilla through Europe, who centu- ries ago threatened civilization itself The mind of the German people. the modern Hun, is obsessed with the thought that military might shall be supreme. That people. today blinded by that false thought, is kneeling be- meath the heel of a fanatical ruler whose cruelties OutTival even those of Nero. The autOcTacy of Germany has obscured the vision and gagged the expression of free thought in Germany. There is no such thing as rule by the people, in Germany They are bound. body and soul to the wheels of the kaiser's military chariOt-and for four years have been dragged from one battle field to another. Their selfflat- tered culture. if gagged by their atrOcI- ties in this present war, is no better than the culture of the ancient slash faced Hun, or the most ignorant say age in the darkness of Africa. The military autocracy of Germany dreams of world dOminion-of the hour when 1t may impose it's autocratic rule and culture upon all the peoples of the earth. No indictment of that German military autOcracy can be too severe. ! Recent history proves that it's diplo- matic relations have been built uDon deceit and lies. Long after you and are gone, when history shall carefully record the happenings of these days. It will tell the story of a blinded Ger man people, led by a half-crazy kaiser. attempting to impose upon the civil ized world German Kultur and rule by military might It will tell the story Of a war greater than an other wars in the history of the world It will tell the story of loss of life that is meas ured in millions. IL will also tell the story Of the downfall of a Hun people and of military clique-from inc ashes of which will arise a cleaner Nry~v, no