Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-27

choicest treasures 1T is an honor to
die for the country" is sentiment older
than christianity itself-a sentiment that
was said and sung amoag the masses who
spoke the great Grecian tongue when it
was still young, ere Its first epic was put
into verse. 1t throbbed in the hearts of
rude people as they built walls or stood
around the gateways of their small
natienalities against the foe. How many
thousand star acts of patriotism in differ
ent countries have been lighted at the
fire, kindled by Leonidis and his Spartans
at Thermopylee! And what adds to the
lustre of that act was the fact that these
men went TO there death to produce an
example. 1t was not for their practical
value as defence that they sold their
lives, but to do deed that should live in
the longest memories Of the Grecian na~
ton. that should burn vestal flame on
the altar of patriotism forever.
Nor do we need to 60 beyond the
limits of American history to find in>
stances of
HEROIC SELF SACRIFICE
for the country One of the most illus
trious acts of this genius recorded in any
history was PERFORMED by half dozen
young American naval officers before
Algiers, whose bones lie there to this dav,
and whose deliberate purpose was to sink
the flag of their country and themselves
with it in the slime of the seas floor
rather than see it det1ed in the hands of
uncircumcised infidels. In Washington
today may be seen the monument erected
to these young American Spartans, set-
ting forth nations appreciation of the
spirit that prompted their act of self inn
notation. The whole history of the res
public is illustrated with acts of heroic
self-sacrifice, acts of the Spartan type,
on the part not only of men, but women
also who counted, not their lives dear
unto them that they might perpetuate the
life or defend the sacred honor the Lord
God had given to them and who mas not
read with thrill of enthusiastic admira>
ton of that wonderful exploit during the
late civil war, called in the annals OF the
period, 'Zagourmie's Ride to Death'-a
vivid recital Of which Illustrious event
was here recited by the preacher.
We are sadly deficient in appreciation
OF the services rendered by those whose
graves we are this week to visit and
CROWN WITH GARLANDs OF HONOR,
if we imagine that that is the only thing
we can do in acknowledged of the OBJ
legation we are under to them. There is
something far more binding upon us than
this or any similar act of fidelity.
Though year after year we strew their
graves with flowers, though we carve
their names in the imperIshable stone,
though immortal words embalm their
deeds, all will be hollow, heartless, in>
sufficient unless We take up their fallen
mantle to wear it sacredly till We go to
the way of all flesh. These men went
forth to death prepared to die for the
great idea of American nationality. 1t
was this that inspired them to sacrifice
and transform them from peaceful cti>
Zens into patriotic heroes. 1t was to
save their flag from dishonor and their
country from destruction that they gave
their lives. And their ashes tell us that
if the land and laws were worthy of
them. that brave men should die for their
keeping-they are at least worthy that
now pure men and unselfish men should
live In grand fidelity to the idea of a
true democracy. They tell us that
every popular disregard of political
duty and prevailing political corr
ruption can weaken the government
and destroy the liberties of this
American republic. They tell US what
American nationality and American lib
erty cost and they entreat all who love
America solemnly to guard against the
encroachment of any class, native-born
mr. roll
who, in their false, wild and anarchistic
notions of liberty. would crush and de-
stroy these institutions which now so
justly entitle this nation to be called the
land of the free and the home of the
brave"
WHERE TRUE PATRIOTISM PREVAILS
the Hottest national ideal will be cher
ished. The true lover of his country not
only looks back with pride to those
achievements which cast a lustre upon
his nations history, but he looks forward
and with earnest conscIentiousness sets
himself to discharge the duties and re-
spoons Utilities of citizenship. He pro-
foundry realizes that as an heir of the
past. he holds what he has in trust for
generations that are to come. However
humble and inconspicuous the position he
occupies in the nation, he feels that he
is an essential part of the great common
wealth and that he has something to do
with the making of a history that by the
generations to come shall be read with
pride or with shame. Let no citizen
claim the name of patriot who does not
cherish q proper sense of his individu al
Importance as a''partner of the repub-
lic," and whose very cry is that of
'Rightsl" "Rightsi" never that of "Du-
tyi" Duty" Such a man is the embods
iment of selfishness-a vulgar anarchist
the worst enemy of the nation.
Patriotism does not consist merely in
eulogizing the dead, but also in manfully
entering upon the duties which devolve
upon us as men and as citizens. The pri-
vate character of the individual citizen
affects the character of the nation as a
whole in the judgment of the world.
One of the dangers which threatens this
land arises from false and spurious ideas
of liberty. Many imagine that this is a
land where every man has rights which
he may demand and where nobody has
duties which must be discharged. The
description every man did that which
was right in his own eyes," is a descrip-
ton not of heroic freedom, but of hide
GUS anarchy. Freedom is the correlative
of order; it is the function of righteous
ness. Its home. like that of law, is in
the bosom of God Almighty; its voice the
harmony of the world. Liberty is not
liberty to do wrong unchecked:
HE is o free man whom the truth makes free.
And all are slaves beside.''
Liberty means the right to do as one
pleases only when he pleases to do what
is right. The only liberty worthy the
name is that which develops a peoples