Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-07-07
RECORD CROWD
HERE FOR 4TH
Crowd Estimated at Ten Thousand
Gather in Boone to Celebrate;
Speeches, Sports and Fireworks
Make the Day Interesting

Monday to participate in the Fourth
of July celebration sponsored by the
Watauga Post, American Legion. 1t
is estimated that ten thousand peo-
pie were present to participate and
hear addresses by Hon. Jake F. New
ell of Charlotte and District Attorney
F. A. Linney of Boone.
Following the spectacular parade
from the courthouse to the Legion
Park, featured by soldiers of the
World War and attractive floats pre-
pared by various business interests of
the city, led by the Lenoir high school
band, addresses Of welcome We're de-
livered by Mayor W. R. Gragg and
Post Commander L. S. Isaacs. Mr..
Newell was introduced by DR.. B. B.
Dougherty and spoke in part as fol-
lows:
''In conserving the heritage Of the
fathers and heroes of '76, we of to-
day had as we'll face the issues
squarely and without excuse or eva
sion. A day has not dawned since
the birth of this nation that the enc
mics of individual freedom have not
sought by every means, even through
murderous intrigue, to destroy the
fabric and the hope of our constitu-
tion and free institutions. Their
search and covert purpose have been
as treacherous as was the search of
Herod for the Child born in BeJhte-
hem.
THE friends and profiteers of
privilege; the power-gluttons who
fear the strength and voice of the
common people; those who favor the
surrender of national sovereignty to
foreign ideals and dominion; those
who flagrantly violate the laws of
our own land are, consciously or IN
i consciously, in league with those Who
would tear the barred and starred
, emblem of freedom from the ram
! parts Of civilization.
'Under the baneful influence of
all of these forces, we find that life
is insecure in many parts of our
country; that there is a growing dis
regard for the property rights of 9TH
ers; that there is a sort of sneering
disregard for all law; that the very
age is money-mad; and that con-
science is being paralyzed by syste-
matte and subtle overthrow of spir-
itual responsibility. At the same
time we may look to the continent of
Asia and observe war-torn and ire
sponsible China and the seething un-
rest of India. Look to the continent
of Europe and against the Italian
sky rises the sinister silhouette of
Mussolini; and across the wintry
wastes of Russia stalks malicious
madness the like of which the world
has seldom seen. Four-fifths of the
worlds population are totally differ
ent and easily made hostile to our
race.
yet, against all of these on
slaughts of evil, our race and our ma
ton must stand and, with voice that
shall sound in every cline and echo
across every ocean, command peace,
plant and secure freedom and remain
for all time, as we have been for more
than a century, the light and hope of
the earth.
eve cannot do this otherwise than
by teaching every man to dedicate
himself, not to his party, not to his
creed, not to selfish lusts, but to his
country. We cannot succeed by
teaching sectional hatred within our
borders, nor by denying justice to
any of the least of our people. In
preparation for this day, it was de-
creed from above and written in
blood that this nation should be one
indissoluble union; and that it
should remain free and just, or per-
ish from the earth.
81 appeal to you, even your as
your country appeals to you, men,
bers of the American Legion-you
who faced shot and shell, submarine,
poison gas and saw your comrades die
as hell's red glare was painted on
Frances sky-to lead the way. Lead,
as men unafraid; lead, as men living
but willing to die for humanity's
cause; lead, with the pledge of un-
daunted manhood; lead us by the an
cient landmarks; lead us in the way
of the kindly light.
"If you will, we shall be more
than conquerors, and through us the
world shall be blessed; if you won't,
l fear that leaden skies will close
about US, and as a people we shall
march into the encircling night, and
(Continued on Pace Five)