Evening star., 1923-07-04


reader on the Fourth of July. in the
midst Of independence day thoughts
and environment. There will not be
the same explosive environment as of
one or two decades ago. but there will
be the holiday spirit. There will not
be the same oratory as fiourished in
our forefathers' celebration OF the
Fourth Of July. but there will be no
less true. patriotism.
X
Americans have been caricatured
by the nationaiities of Europe. They
forget, too often, that Americans are
a composite Of all that ambitious
active spirit. restless under dull mo-
notony, which, for years, has been
flowing from Europe-a survival of
the httest, merged into eclectic man
hood.
The Declaration of Independence
did not create freedom in America.
Its own language testifies to that
fact. II merely asserted that which
pre-existed: I'VE are, and of right
ought to be, free and independent"
The so-called Revolution" was not
a revolution but war OF defense Of
freedom and the rights Of that free
dom which was granted and guaran-
teed to the colonists. in their colonial
charters.
That freedom was challenged by
the corrupt and tyrannous ministers
CT Englard, who sought to rob the
colonists Of their charter rights to
manage their own affairs. The strong
spirit which had dared leave the con-
ventionalities of the old country and
stand self-reliant against the saw
agery and wilderness of the new
world-that spirit, during the gener-
ations following which had never
known unfair restriction-flared back
against the measures of despotic and
selfish rule. A congressional decla-
ration did not begin American spirit
1t simply proclaimed the existence of
stronger for nearly twenty decades.
That spirit is the very soul of Amer
icsnism.
What was the nag which inspired
Glory had not yet been designed. The
union of the colonies had been the
dream of patriots but had not yet
come to pass. Twenty years before
Benjamin Franklin had designed a
flag bearing a picture of a rattle
snake, cut into thirteen parts, each
piece labeled with the name of q
colony, and underneath the severed
snake was the warning: Unite or
perish"
"
There is a biological myth to the
effect that certain species of snake,
though cut to pieces has the power to
gather up the fragments and reunite
into a healthy whole. 1t Is evident
that the Philadelphia statesmen had
heard the story. But the point now
emphasized Is that the Franklin
snake" must have been one in soul
and spirit. before 1t became sepa-
rated, else his appeal would have lost
its force.
The flag OF Bunker Hill was not
that of the philosopher, it was the
banner Of self-reliance and independ-
ence. 1t was the red banner of
blood and defiance against oppres-
sion, bearing the challenge, Come
on. IL you dare
The spirit of the Bunker Hill ban
ner still lives. 1t is not the spirit of
foolish jingoism, but is the soul which
has no knowledge of defeat, no con-
ception of fear.
There are those in America who
defer, in a ridiculous timidity, to the
prejudices and Quirks of foreigners.
America, to them. is correct" only to
the degree that English or French or
German critics vouchsafe their ap-
proval. Otherwise 1t is crude
y *
Just now we are hearing from GER
tain sources that America is growing
unpopular abroad. That would be
unfortunate, IL true. but the state
ment may usually be traced to Amer
leans who do not favor letting Amer
leans manage their own affairs at
home and enforce their own laws
within their own territory. There is
not the slightest ground for fear of
official friction. but IL there were,
would the situation not be remindful
of the story of the funny incident
aboard a transatlantic steamer? A
Britisher was telling a group of pas