| OCR Text |
Show -o JULY FOURTH IN WAR TIME. For the first time since the Civil war, the United States must celebrate its birthday in a war period threatening the very life of the nation. The Spanish war covered the Jully Fourth period, but it was comparatively but a toy conflict. From all over the country there come reports of different dif-ferent July Fourth plans. It is manifestly inopportune to burn up perfectly good power, that later will be needed to discharge at the Germans. Also in time of high cost food and war taxes, it is not wise to burn up any buildings in July Fourth fires. The fact that the owners of these buildings are insured in-sured is immaterial. Some one has to pay for insurance. We all settle the bill in the costs of our policies, and if we rent houses we pay in the landlord's bill. Furthermore, a general free for all for bonfires would give opportunity to the spies and plotters, who are looking for a chance, to destroy something. Give the firemen a rest for once. They have worried over the July Fourth risks ever sinca they were on the job. With so much real sorrow coming, it is not necessary to play war by killing off or maiming any of our children with toy pistols or giant fire crackers. Our patriotism can be equally well displayed by working in the garden, buying Liberty bonds, etc. It is just the time for old time rousements that shall stir un American spirit. Let us hear about the heroes of the old wars, who gave their lives for the Liberty we are now trying to defend. These exercises should depend on volunteer effort so far as possible, which is amply available avail-able for a demonstration of patriotic feeling. |
