The National tribune., 1894-03-15
THE PARABLE OF PATRIOTISM.

THE PARABLE OF PATRIOTISM.
To maintain true allegiance to the United States
of america; to inculcatelessons of patriotism and
lore of country among our children and in the
nunitieS in which iUe and encourage the spread
| Of universal liberty and equal rights to all.
| So reads Section 3. Article II, Chapter l.
Rules and Regulations of the Woman's Relief
Corps auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Re-
public, in defining the objects of this great
National association; but it must be confessed
that those who had part in promulgating these
rules. the writer among them, had no adequate
| conception of the magnificent opportunities
afforded in assuming this sacred trust
| 1t is not necessary or best that he who
| espouses high cause should have everything
made plain from the beginning. This is the
| way, walk ye in it, is enough as we go on the
prospect unfolds to our vision and the mount
aims of promise unval their sun-capped pima
cles to our yearning eyes.
Make the Grand Army hall bright and cheer
| full, glowing with the National colors and echo
ing with patriotic speech and song and story,
and call your children and your neighbors'
children in, to honor the flag and is preservers.
Remember the battle anniversaries and the
National holidays, and see that they are fit
tingly observed.
Set apart Memorial Day as sacred to loyalty
and patriotism Place the wreaths and the
| flowers in the hands of the children, and let
them gather with the veterans of the Union to
place the crown of love upon the low, green
mounds where vaor sleeps the sleep that
knows no waking"
Up with the flag over every school-house in
the land. Up with the flag that tells of loyal
hearts and loyal homes and Of memories loyal
| to liberty and union, forever and forever.
| &c. one by one, our duties were made plain,
and together we joined hands and went on and
on. Then, all OF sudden we came to higher
plane, and there stood two veterans of the
Union with scrolls in their hands, and they
said to us:
Come up, and look over the field with u.s."
And we mounted to higher plane And
they showed us vision of States and all the
school-houses in the land; and many dark
| spots there were, too, where no school-houses
| stood. aud the children, some with black faces
and others with white, went with eyes down.
cast, following the beasts that perish.
And they went forward and opened the doors
of the schoo-houses. And in some there was
drearness and desolation, and apathy and dis
content sat on the faces of the children. And
! in some there was the flash of smiles and the
| clasping OF hands And at the teachers desk
cleaned the dear old flag and here boy and
| here a girl, who stood first in department, ran
! up and caught the colors and marched trum-
phantly around the room, and eager feet beat
time they followed after, and happy chorus
sang out Three cheers for the red, white and
! blue"
| To Col Balch, the originator Of patriotic
| teaching in the schools of our land, and to
| Wallace Foster, the evangelist of patriotism to
| these two who unfolded the vision that is lead
| ing the Womans Relief Corps forward on
higher plane, all honor is DUE In response to
requests from far and near both these comrades
appear with communications, to-day, which
| will be appreciated by all.
In this connection it is pleasant to note that
| Department President Clare Ii. Burleigh, of
| Massachusetts,, has appointed q committee, as
announced in General Orders, of which Lou
| Stuart Wadsworth is Chairman to introduce
| to the Corps of Massachusetts, the form of salute
to the flag now in use in the South Boston
| schools.
| WHY SALUTE THE FLAGf
Col. Balch writes to express his interest in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE articles on patriotic
| teaching in the schools, and his thanks for the
increased interest in his special line of work
| through this medium. He has amended his
patriotic salute, which is now ready for dis
| tributon, together with the Patriotic Primer,
which tells why the flag should be saluted
| Send % cents to him at 80 East Twenty
second street, New York, and you are ready for
work.
In reference TO his revised salute, or the
American Patriotic Salute, Col. Balch says:
II have named it to distinguish it from all
| others. | submitted the proof to a number of
distinguished clergymen, and to DIR. Harris,
| Commissioner of Education, at Washington, all
of whom give it unqualified approval
| ] have undertaken to see that by the close of
the present year 100000 of school children are
saluting the National flag, TO make this
success | must rely largely on the cordial and
| efficient cooperation OF your noble Relief
Corps.
beyond all comparison with any other OBJ
ject in which the Relief Corps may be- inter-
ested, nothing can approach that of intoxicating
in the minds of the children those lessons of
patriotism of which the Grand Army of the
Republic is the living exempifcation
1t must ever be recollected that in all other
| countries where the masses of the people have
little, if any, real participation in Government,
patriotism simply means, in the highest sense,
| dying for ones country. But here it means to
live for it always. and die for it if we must. 81
| expect in the course of the coming week to
send the new American salute TO the Indian
posts, and hope to place it at all the State Head
quarters of the Woman's Relief Corps
Yours, in f., g.. and L.-George +. Balch.
coMRADE FOSTERS RALLY.
Enthusiastic and Astounding in all good works
as is Comrade Wallace Foster THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE family has been too much for him.
He has been overwhelmed with inquiries,
since THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE recommended
W.R.C workers to write to him, and finding it
impossible to answer all letters received he
forwards through The NATIONAL TRIBUNE q
general answer to all
Il appreciate your kindness in recommend
ing your friends to me for an answer" he
writes, but in the future please send them all
to Baleh."
So friends, please note COL Balch's address
and write to him. Comrade Foster says: "He
is grand old comrade, chuck full of patriot
ism, with all it's emotional and intellectual
features" His letter follows: