Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-04-08
VOL. 1.-NO. ID

and the homes OF our youth. Nor
would we offer violence to them by an
irreverent word OF look, but when. In
prizing our own, we undervaluc 9th -
when in loving our own we denouncc
all outside the charmed circle. AMI
when in worshipping our own house
hold gods. we demand that all others
should bow down before them; then
patriotism becomes prescription. AMI
degenerates into base jealousy un-
worthy of any noble spirit. Yet that
it often does become so. numberless
instances will daily testify; and when
thus transformed. il becomes a keen
and powerful weapon in the hands of
those who know how to weld it
The equilibrium of the human pass.
ions is SO nicely poised that feather
sufhces TO turn the scale. and 10 con
vert generous emotion into a blind
fury. and this the leaders Of the popu-
lace we'll know. And. indeed. that
man possesses the most real power
who can best sway the masses by the
perfect knowledge of their Inherent
natures.
But we have not Vet learned the full
est meaning of the word patriotism
but have accepted il with numerous
limitations We have bounded onr
sympathics and our antagonisms by
certain number Of square miles. We
have put great faith in geographical
parallels, AID very little in the com
mon brotherhood Of humanity. We
haye yet to learn that our country is
bounded by the sunlight. our country
men by the sound of human voice
Patriotism. in Its largest. fullest sense
is the love OF the world. Ii is very
strange, this habit VIC have Of viewing
things from so narrow standpoint.
One wonders that we should attach so
much importance to a corner, work.
or an action. losing sight. meanwhile.
of the great whole. We need broader
ideas. We need 10 take the inter
csts of the whole world into consider
alton; not those Of a clique. n party.
or nation. Politics should not ask
of measure. "Will it profit ma
tion?" but. "Nill it profit the world7"
Philanthropy should not work for
single class. but for all humanity
Religion should not entrench itself
among sccts and crceds. but should
diffuse its general sympathies among
all the people of The earth Thou
shalt love thy ncighbor as thyself."
was no idle saying. Not better. but
as well. is it asking too much ? DO
we not fall short of the Right by just
as much as we fall short OF this stand
ard And who is thy neighbour All
who inhalc the pure air of Heaven
all who drink in the blessed sunlight
all who cause the air TO vibrate with
the strange melody OF that wondrous
instrument, the human voice Think
not Of the color Of their skin or the
form OF their speech: ask not If they
were nurtured in huts or palaces; it is
enough for thee that they are the gems
of the creation: that spark Of the di-
vine is struggling in each one Of them
to regain its native element. DO not
throw water and ashes upon il. but
strive to nourish it carefully and ten
derly.
If you are patriot, you will love
your country--not locally. but univer-
sally;--its mountains, its prairies. its
icc-felds and its ocean inlets. Your
heart will throb joyfully at each sue
cess. and painfully at each failure Of
humanity The world will be your
country. and you will love all your
countrymen. The regeneration of the
world must come through love. Self
ishness is the crime of the times. the
stumbling-block in the way of pro-
grcss. Who will roll away the stone
from the sepulchre. that the angel
may come forth and restore the Golden
Age?