The Penn's Grove record., 1920-07-02
NationNowC Calls
on All Patriots
BY e
of the NiuiIantes-

~HIS is the story of Cec1e
Fourth, the Day that is the
American years badge of In
dependence and Liberty, the
Day that should mean to is much the
same as a real Christmas-and the
Day that too many of us have hereto
fore dragged through the cheap mire
of loud noises and Spread-eagleism!
And now we stand in no small danger
of losing forever the glorious old
Fourth to the Prussian legions. 1t is
a fact, and not a calamity howl. J
tell you, it is a fact.
We have three distinct classes OF
Fourth Observers in this big and good
natured, easy-going, still h~alf-asieep
nation of ours. There is the class that
drowses the day away; the class that
spends the Day either in j%oyriding or
in making great noises; and he class
that looks upon the Fourth as the sa-
cred day it is. 1t was this latter
named class that made the Fourth
is keeping the Fourth and will contin-
ue to keep the Fourth, God willing.
If these patriots can only get the help
Of all the people we shall keep the Day
of Independence as long as time lasts.
We do stand in danger of losing this
Day and all it means, l tell you most
solemnly. The distance between US
and Prussia has given us a false feel
ing of security. Man, there is no dis
lance now! Germany is at u elbows.
Germany is right here with cunning
spies and incendiarieS, and c~ut-throat
p~ropagandists. Let me state this to
you, brother American; there are men
of no small Importance in things, here
10 the United States, who are secretly
working for Germany in the stout be-
lief that Germany will win in the end.
Foolish, you say? Unspeakable, insult
ferable, perhaps; but hardly foolish.
Germany is not yet whipped in Eu-
rope. If Germany finally wins in Eu-
rope; if Germany breaks and rolls up
the allied lines-that which will fol
low will surely take your breath away.
Never, never was there dreamed of
such a colossal reign of horror as that
which would follow a final Prussian
victory in Europe.
Man, man, we mustn't lose our
Fourth. 1t is oHr most sacred her
itage; we must keep it and all it stands
for, though the last drop of u blood
goes to pay the price. We can keep
it, if only We wake to the great ne
cessity that confronts US now. If we
lose it, it will be the fault of the slack
ers among us. Our biggest difficulty
is that wooden-headed, unfounded con-
fdence we've got in George-in leaving
it to the other fellow. Don't for a min
ute think we've got only a "bit" to do;
no; we must do all we cant
Generally speaking, we've been mild
ly patriotic so far. The average per-
son of US has really given little, has
suffered little save the inconvenience
caused by food and fuel situations.
We must back up the army and navy,
through our government, better than
we have been doing. Remember, poor
George can't possibly do all there is
to do! If we don't help George, the
other fellow, George is going into the
hands of the Black Beast of Kultur.
And If we don't help George, 1t would
serve US right if the Spiked Helmet
did get us-but wouldn't it be hell for
George? Poor old George. God bless
that patriotic, overburdened man.
Let's help him, you and I; let's keep
the Fourth as our own Day of indie
pendence. l can imagine no greater
remorse of conscience than to look
backward, after these bitter years that
be upon us now, and have to say to
myself this:
"This Liberty is not mine. / did
nothing to help. Nothing. Nothing"
God save the Fourth of July, and
make it immortal! God must save it
for us if only all the people will help
Him and George. We pay for what
we get. 1t is the oldest law. If Lib.
cry Is ours, We must pay for it.