Pearl Harbor Proclamations

To The People of Harlingen

Fellow Americans! Our Nation has been attacked. The blood of its youth has been shed in a cowardly, uncivilized manner. Its flag has been attacked by the aggressor without notice, under representations of peaceful negotia-tion.

Americans, enjoying the right of free speech, the freedom of the press, and the other rights of freemen, are prone in time of peace, to disagree socially and politically. Our enemies, in their ignorance or our national char-acter, may have the idea that we are not together as a people. In the face of aggression and attack we are one in spirit, interest and action. I call upon all citizens of this City to forget politics, opinions and personalities and unite as citizens of the United States to do those things which are necessary to keep us free. Let us proudly display the Flag, the symbol of our unity and independence, and keep it and its defenders flying. Let us pay tribute to those men in our uniform who, without an opportunity for defense, were cut down. May we live, work and fight so that their blood shall be avenged. They have not died in vain.

May it be the spirit of America in co-operative action that hurls defiance at our enemies.

HUGH RAMSEY,          
Mayor.
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PROCLAMATION

America has been attacked — once more the hand of force — destruction — even death has been directed at the United States. Today, December 7, Japan, without warning, and even while the friendly, sympathetic hand of our people is extended across the waters of the Pacific, in a kindly, brotherly attitude, that war might be averted, thus sparing lives and property, has from the skies, hurled death and destruction on our people.

Thus Japan, partner in crime, of Adolf Hitler, mad dog of Europe, brings the war to the Untied States, removing any thought, any hope that this arch criminal of all times will be satisfied with anything less than domination, slavery of all peoples, that dispute his will to rule.

America was founded by people oppressed, with one thought, that they might live as free people, self governed, ever mindful of the rights of others, so there can be but one answer to the warlords of the East, and that is, that America again accept the challenge of might over right, and give the blood of our youth, heart rending as truth must be, that nations might live and that people might be free — that sacrifice, that privilege is our heritage.

Today, there should be but one people, one party in America, and that Americans, united solidly behind our gov-ernment, with only one thought, one purpose, and that — our all — to our country.

Therefor, I, Louis S. Witte, Mayor of San Benito, Texas, do hereby request and urge that all business firms and homes, Tuesday, the 8 of December, 1941, display the United States Flag, as a renewal of our faith in and loyalty to our country, and as an answer to the cowardly act by the tail of the German dog — Japan.

Done at the City of San Benito this the 7 day of December, 1941.

LOUIS S. WITTE,
Mayor of San Benito.