Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-06-24

the British crown and that all p0ltlcal connection
between them and the state of Great Britain Is
and ought to be totally dissolved"
This of course is the real Declaration of indie
pendence, the document now known as the Declare
ton being adopted two days later. OF the adop-
tion of the Lee resolution John Adams wrote TO
his wife the historic letter which says, among
other things:
"The second day of July, 1776 will be the most
remarkable epoch in the history of America. I
am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by
succeeding generations as the great anniversary
festival. 1t ought to be commemOrated the
day of deliverance by Solemn acts of devotion to
God Almighty 1t ought to be somenized with
pomp and parade, with shows, games sports bells,
bonfires and illumination from end of this
continent to the other from this time forward for
evermore."
Time has proved that John Adams. though he
got his dates mixed, was true prophet. Probably
the Fourth of July is distinctively American
celebration: All the civilized world celebrates
New Years, Easter Memorial day, Thanksgiving
and Christmas in one way another But indie
pendence day is ours alone. To be sure, we have
WashngtonS birthday and LincOln'S birthday
which are also alone but "the Fourth" in
cludes most If not all of what they stand for
In short the Fourth of July comes mighty near
being our national day when the American Eagle
screams for everything from the Mayhower to the
Argonne-from 1920 to November H. 1918
Armistice day! That introduces the pertinent
point that another change must be made in the
long evolution of the celebration of the Fourth of
July. For if the Fourth of July stands for one
specific thing that specific thing is just ex-
actly what its original neutrality-suspicious. day
signifies. And after Armisce day-and all that
it stands for-its quite evident that the American
eagle must be taught to coo instead of scream
when it goes to the John Bull part of it's perform
ance.
For we have seen our oldtime-two time-enemy
fighting for his life and for our lives too against
a foe that would have destroyed all that we Eng
disappearing peoples in common hold dear. And
after long while we crowded in alongside our
ancient enemy and got busy to make up for lost
time Never mind who won the war; We have
gumption enough to know exactly what John Bull
did for Uncle Sam-and are grateful accordingly.
And it's quite likely that Uncle Sam came near
enough to saving John Bulls life to feel something
more than a friendly interest in him. So
parts of our Fourth of July celebration will have
to be toned down from
Moreover it's high time that the American peo-
pie put their mind to fixing up the day we cele-
brate." For the Fourth of July celebration right
now is betwxt and between. The oldfashioned
Fourth was done away with The Sane Fourth"
Supplanted it. Now the "Sane Fourth" Is In dam
ger of becoming merely holiday. Holiday cele-
bratons like men and nations, do not stand STILL
And the Fourth of July is worth the closest at
tentlon and best effort of the American people.
The first Fourth of July celebration, which was
held in 1777 In Philadelphia, canot serve as mod
ell Its principal feature was banquet at which
many toasts drank, each toast being follow
ed by the discharge Of firearms and cannon Ger
tainly too wet and possibly too noisy.
The peace era naugurated by the coming of the
Monroe administration and continued during the
'twentles unfavorable TO a demonsrative cee-