Morris tribune., 1882-12-14
MORRIS TRIBJNE-
Published every Thursday.
RANDALL Il B0DEEN,
Publishers.


Somebody has said that thoughts
which have risen in his mind have
been rejected, and afterwards he has
found them identified with the names
of other writer's, to his personal regret.
Such is not our feeling on peruSing
some remarks which have been made
by celebrated man on "Patriotism."
We have ourselves previously given
utterance to similar sentiments, but
we are pleased rather than otherwise
when a greater authority endorses the
views which we hold. The words
We're as follows:
hold it to be shame for Il man to
live in any town, or Village, or city,
Withoat Il Thought OF The prosperity Of
thH; tnNa, or Village, or city. hold
that it i Il ilaEle far Il at;,n (" u-r
the com!nGn:!y as \ >..cpHcr, USES MS
sheep, merely t" shear the wool. For
a luan To- hc i citizen. and To ihiuk
Can better myself at the expense
of the government of the city, or OF
the community to which | belong?'
and never to have the thought flash
across his mind Can | enrich the
state and benefit my fellow ,man:" is
a shame.
III most places there arc persons
who interest themselves in pnhlic
matters frnm rurcst and most disin-
, teTcstel motives. they give their
time, their talents, and in some in-
! stances their means, for the general
welfare. They seek To win, what at.
ter all is worth having, the good opin-
ion Of the virtuous and intelligent.
The aSpersionS of the selfish. the ava
Tirious and the mean, they at once ig-
more and deSp!Se. such may deserve
honor and esteem, and that is a wise
/ community which would recognize
such rather than the mere possession
of wealth, and consequently Of politi-
cal and social influence. But unfortu-
! nately, there are always Il large num-
Der of persons who are covetous Of
place, simply that they may derive
( personal advantage. They are ever
more on the lookout for themselves.
They act on the principle which sure
ly must have been laid down in spir-
it of cynicism: get money, honestly if
possible, but get it: They get money
! that they may have power, and then
Use the power to get more money. The
principle of "every man for HIMSELF
is permitted In an unworthy sense to
prevail. Present gain Is aimed at
rather than prospective prosperity.
! The bird in the hand is thought more
Of than any thousand in the bush. 1t
is said that in one of the principal
/ towns in Holland the magistrates de-
eide what is required for public pur-
poses, and then state what proportion
each is to give on his income. In
stead of the collector going round, the
citizens repair to the Town Hall,
where table is covered with cloth
+ and each man places beneath the one
and on the other ihe amount which
he knows to represent his portion, in
accordance with his possessions or his
gains. This contribution Is the as-
sessment made by honor and con.
science. And in that place almost
everybody must have both, for the
probity and public spirit generally of
the people amply sustain the public
needs. Ever and anon we read of
generous deeds prompted by a spirit
of true patriotism and genuine philan-
throphy, and the names of Peabody
and others constantly recur. And
those places are highly blessed which
possess merchant princes or noble
benefactors, and who supplement
their sacrifice of time and energy by
the wise adaptation of their means to
the general good. There are many To-
calities to-day possessing valuable in
stitutions for teaching and healing,
established by the Hoble-hearted and
the brave, whose names the benfitted
and appreciative generally will not
willingly let die.
Our countrymen are always ready
to acknowledge public efforts, and the
glory-roll of this land has a grand va
cancy to be filled up with the names
of those who have left the world hap
pier and better for their being i'll it.
This may be considered as being a
high and unreachable aim, but one
point we can all start for and desire,
and that is the general well-being OF
the entire community where we are.
And after all the one thing wanted in
our public life is the kind of patriot.
| isln which is ready To sacrifice nerSO.