The record-union., 1894-07-30

The RECORD UNION and WEEKLY
UNION are the only papers on the Coast,
outside Of San Francisco, that re-
eeaUe the full Associated Press Dis
patches from all parts Of the s0orId. Out
side Of San Francisco, they haze no com
petstoTs. either IN influence or home and
general ctrcattotlo1s throughout the STATE.
WHY THERE Is LAXITY OF PATRI-
OTISM.
Because the tendency of the day is in
the direction of cosmopolitanism. Rev.
DR.. Hamilton. in the Journal of Politics,
is not surprised that there is now some
laxity of patriotism.
We incline to the belief, however, that
the laxity is due rather to the insidious
encroachments of individuality, pro-
noted by the sociaiistic advocates, and
giving us growth that looks upon the
restraints of the law as tyrannous. rather
than the foundation and guarantee of
freedom.
But Mr.. Hamilton admits that without
patriotism there can be no safeguards to
the liberties of a nation and no guarantee
to the permanency of its institutions.
That is truism. But what then is patri-
otisna? Not mere periodical ebullient
spread-eagleism and rhapsodical excla-
nation in apostrophe to the flag. 1t is
devotion to the fundamental principles
upon which the orderly and benefcent
government of country is based.
It involves love of country. of course
of the sentimental order; attachment to
the soil because of love Of home. But
patriotism is not enduring that is merely
sentimental. 1t must be intelligent at
ts.chment to and belief in the articles of
faith of ones country. Behind and be-
meath it must lie comprehension Of the
meanings and virtues of government,
which is restraint. in broad sense. 1t
involves, therefore, sincere, almost devo-
tional, regard for the law and the laws
authority, even when the law and its
agencies may not be wholly to our liking.
Patriotism must inspire US with sense
of duty; it must put individuality second
always, and our country and its highest
welfare first always. Patriotism is sensl-
bility of these truths and conviction re-
garding them so firm that it will make us
prefer our country when we deem it to be
wrong, rather than another we may think
10 be right.
The decadence of patriotism, or rather
the absence of manifestation of it. which
has become so conspicuous recently, is
due to the insidious creeping into the
minds of our youth and those OF man
hood who have been recently of the
youth of the land, of the teachings of
materialism, the specious doctrines of
socialism, and the free acceptance OF vain
and utopiap theories concerning ''indi-
vidual freedom and the 'oppressionsn
of restraint. These have tended to crowd
out love of country, to unsettle faith in
laws and constitutions. and the regula-
tions that society has found necessary to
its peace and order.
Mr.. Hamilton well says that the un-
speaksble Turk came into Europe not be-
cause of his strengthlso much as because
there was not patriotism sufficient in
Constantinople to bear up the hands Of
the last Constantine in his desperate
stand against the swelling tide of Moslem
/. IL, II,
prove true of US? VIII the result OF the
encroachment of dangerous doctrines re-
garding individuality, reserved rights,
nationalism, and the fanciful and alIur-
ing, but deceptive and untried theories Of
cold -blooded, radical socialism, work our
overthrow as self-governing people,
and the erection upon the ruins of the re-
public of fabrics of theory and utopian
schemes?
Possibly, if when the nation is tried
even so little as in the past few weeks,
our young men continue to manifest so
slight regard for the traditions of the
nation and the institutions of free gov
GllQ bO Abtlc ISSDcCb lux law ,
and constituted authority. There is no
true American whose heart has not been
torn recently by the undeniable evi-
denee given of the laxity of patriotic
spirit among the youths of the day and
their contemptuous disregard of the
laws. It has been common, painfully
common, to hear youths echo the cry of
those foreigners who have come to this
refuge apparently for no other purpose
than to rail st it and preach the over
throw of its system.
How comes it that even our school
children are found to be defining free
dom as the right to do as they please and
without restraint; to set the command OF
union or other private organization
above the Laws and the Constitution?