The Colville Examiner

The Fourth of July is thrice celebrated this year—on the 3d, 4th, 5th. The celebrations which call for the bands, the loud noise, and the fireworks, are divided between the 3d and the 5th. But perhaps the most intelligent of the celebrations are to be held on the 4th—celebrations which are of real meaning in American citizenship, and which will leave memories of value.

There still lurks in some minds the belief that Sunday is too good a day to devote to national patriotism, or to decorating the graves of soldier heroes who died for their country, or to recognizing the standing of American labor. The fetish of Sunday proprieties hangs like a pall over some people.

On the other hand, many thoughtless ones consider a national holiday as nothing but a gala day with its accompanying noise and pomp, forgetting the origin of the observance, and the value of its continuance.

To either class, the 4th of July, or Memorial day, or Labor day, means little. But to the intelligent American citizen with that peculiar quality of red blood which makes this a free nation, holiday observance has an inner meaning as well as an outward display.

In the early days of this northwest country there were no bands and no reduced rates on the Great Northern. There were no city ordinances against giant crackers, and automobiles were not barred from the parade streets. Just the same, the 4th of July celebrations were held, and they were real celebrations. The immortal principles of justice, liberty and equality were told in song and story and patriotic orations to audiences assembled from the hills and the valleys and from across the streams.

Today the Stars and Stripes mark the high standing of a free nation in a world of bloody wars of conquest. With reasons greater than ever for maintaining the memory of our national birth should the 4th of July be celebrated this year.