Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-03
independence Day.

The recurring anniversaries of our ma
tional life bring the conviction, strength
ened each year. that we ms people are
really inappreciative of the significance
of the Fourth of July. for on all sides is
evidence that the day is becoming less
and less observed and that the youth OF
this period knows almost nothing oi our
day Of days, and its meaning to civiliza-
ton and the cause of liberty.
II is already suggested that the l5oth
anniversary of Americas defiance to
George III be celebrated in Philadelphia
in 1926, as was the one hundredth birth
day of Independence A years ago. The
suggestion should meet with the widest
measure of encouragement from the fed
eral government, and from the states as
well as from all the people of this country
The Fourth of July, for many years
observed with great reverence and pa
triotism, has of late become simplS a
date, time of holiday. time for reveiry
and for the excesses as well as for the
meaningless discharge of noisy fireworks
and dangerous devices, that have no rela-
ton at all with the independence of our
country. The immortal declaration OF
reputation of political bondage is today
the torch that has enlightened the entire
world to the blessings of liberty and
freedom.
1t means more today to the old world
nations who have just broken from the
grip Of monarchy and class rule than it
ever has before 1t was the example of
America that inspired the masses on the
other side of the Atlantic to strike the blow
for freedom and, too, it is the example to
be found in our prosperity, happiness,
opulence and in the personal and political
freedom of our people that sent the
monarchial thrones of Eurone to the scrap
heap. Even the glories of the Republican
form of government have echoed their
way into farther ASIA and unseated the
so-cal'ed royal family of China that has
misruled. misguided great people and
kept in bondage since the beginning of
civilization.
Russia. whose people groaned under
the knout of the Gar. has thrown of
her yoke and is going through an awful
siege, to soon attain the bless
ings of self-government.
Germany, battered and torn. as the
penalty for her assault on the worlds
liberties has. through the voice of her
common people, repudiated the rule OF
the Hohenzollern monsters, and over
turned almost every musty, little throne
of the empire.
But for the example of the United
States, no such revolution could have &C
CURED to free the millions of people who
were treated as chattels of the ruling
classes.
America long has been and is the hope
Of all the oppressed peoples OF the world.
They aspired to emulate her example and
when the time came for the decisive blow
they were prepared to turn the victory
Of the nations into victory for the peo-
pie. and there is today not q people in the
bounds of civilization who are oppressed
by its rulers, but that sees the way to
freedom through our guidance.
If we have blazoned the way for the
rest of the world to liberty and freedom,
so surely that all the oppressed nations
are triumphantly following in our steps,
our achievement stands forth as the most
notable in the history of political govern
ment.
We might well and proftably stress
with greater emphasis this anniversary of
world liberty in a more effective way than
that by firing guns and setting of red
fire with their incidental peril to life and
limb.
Each year there might be celebration
or observance at which Americas great
part in hberating nations from centuries
old bondage would be writ large on the
thought of the people, especially in the
minds Of the youth and newcomers to this
land Of the free. There could be no better
method of bringing the alien to an ap-
probation of the greatness of America
than through yearly demonstrations. de-
fning our accomplishments and our tre-
mendous influence in freeing mankind
from political bondage.
Here is the big opportunity in the way
of Americanizing our aliens. but we must
first come to a higher, patriotic regard for
our country and its great mission before
we can inspire other and foreign peoples
to a realization of the greatness of our
nation and its leadership in world affairs.