Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-02
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

| Let, then, the nations of the east
vainly waste their strength in de-
stroying each other. Let them aspire
to conquest and contend for dominion
| till deluged in blood. But let none,
however elated by victory, however
proud of triumphs, ever presume to
intrude on the neutral station as
sumed by our country"
"a quarter century prior to our
Monroe DoctrineD
Britain twice humbled-"
This was spoken in 1900. IL years
before our second war with Great
Britain.)
Britain, twice humbled by her ag-
gressions. has at length been taught
to respect us. But France, once our
ally. has dared to insult u.s. She has
violated her obligations. she has
deprecated our commerce, she has
abused our Government, and riveted
the chains of bondage upon our I'M
happy fellow citizens. When
we have demanded reparation she has
told us, Give us your money and we
will give you peace!
Mighty nationi Magnanimous re-
publici Let her fill her Golfers from
those towns and cities which she has
plundered, and grant peace, If she
can, to the shades of those millions
whose death she has caused. But CO.
lumbia stoops not to tyrants: her sons
will never cringe to France; neither a
supercilious five-headed directory nor
the gasconading pilgrim Of Egypt
will ever dictate terms to sovereign
America"
All that fiery patriotism dates back
more than a century and a quarter.
The physical body of an individual
is said to change every seven years.
How long, then, should nation
hold "spites" against another nation?
The spirits of George III and of the
Understanding directory Of the
French Revolution no longer domi-
nate either the English or the French.
Nor, indeed-alas!-do the spirits Of
the friends of struggling Americans
of Revolutionary days-the days fol-
lowing that first historic Fourth of
July-necessarily control the state
craft of our modern Nation, or actu-
ate the sentiments of its people.
II go a-fishing," says the American
Patriot on Independence day.
More significant still, the spirit OF
national patriotism which stirred our
forefathers into defiance of the en-
croachments of foreign interests upon
American rights finds less distinct
expression in modern scoffing at ma
tional patriotism, national defense"
and love of the ideals of our
forefathers. Is not "internationalism"
the vogue? Where sports smother
the loyalty Of the Fourth of July, Is
it wonder that the parchment in
scription of our Declaration, as care
fully sheltered in the Library of Con-
gress, has faded?
In contrast with the bitterness be-
tween French and Americans in 1900
when war actually existed between
them, note the peroration Of an ad-
dress in Paris, July 4, 1918, delivered
in French by Mr. Walter Berry, presi-
dent of the American Chamber Of
Commerce in France:
1.-The first million is already ar
rived. The others-all the millions
necessary-will follow.
Gentlemen, in 1877, Franklin wrote
Of Paris to the Continental Congress:
Our cause is regarded here as that
dignity and the happiness Of the
human race. 1t is glorious for Amer
leans to be called to this post of
honor
after a century and a half,
French and Americans, we are fight
ing together once more in the same
of humanity. 1t is glori-
ous for us to be called to this post
of honor, to be called to fight for
another independence, the independ-
ence of the world, yonder with you,
on the impossible line"
When Admiral Dewey was lining
up his fleet ready for action in the
Bay of Manila, Prussian battleship
itself between tho Americans
and the Spanish. until British man.
of-war signaled to Dewey that blood
is thicker than water" and took DO.
sition for tactical defense of THE Star
Spangled Banner" That was the same
emblem Of freedom which Comdr.
Byrd carried in his plane this week
10 give to the French: it was the same
hat Francis Scott Key immortalized
n the song which Americans salute.
So. even in spite of historic friction
nations in the past. the es-
,ential spirit of To-day" in honoring
,ur Nation and it's symbol is all that
'eally counts on the 4th of July, 1927
and the 1854 days between the
Tourths.
Gcauxrsght. 1897 by panl v. CoIlinaA