The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-07-04

privileges. Loyalty and patriotism are
but meaningless terms unless understood
and rightly employed to describe senti-
ment on the part of the people OF this
nation which will lead them to have a
care in using the right of self-government
wisely. Let each sovereign be worthy OF
his charge-at home, at the market place,
and at the polls. This nation rests more
upon individual responsibility than any
other. We do not choose rulers-we chose
for each office, however great or small
high or low such men as we believe will
come nearest to enforcing our individual
will. Our protection all lies in this. The
fullest advantage Of majority rule is found
in the acquiescence of the minority. To
be sincere and to effect the proper need
OF contentment, there must be neither
coercion, venality nor trifiidg. There
must be not even suspicion of these.
This means that self-government is an
active force, and that he is but a poor
representative American whose indiffer-
ence permits him to forego his sovereignty
and sink into the attitude OF one OF the
voiceless governed. Each one of us may
at least sufficiently inform ourselves to
have . preference as between the men
who represent our ideas and as between
the ideas they will represent. II there
are some among US who have not the
time nor taste to master a complicated
problem which enters into the work of
governing nation, as some OF us have
not, still we are not on that account in
capacitated for self-government or the
sovereignty Of the individual voter for
we can at least have preference as be-
tween men--as to which comes the near
est to being fair and fearless and patri-
otto; as to which we would sooner entrust
our personal affairs with and to choose
between two men the task becomes SIM
plifed II We always bear in mind that We
govern ourselves in this country, and in
the electing we are choosing man who
will do what you or would do, could we
all be there to examine and act upon all
questions. This is elf-government--in-
telligence and independence to act in Sc
Letting an agent, and then faith to abide
the choice and stand by the results.
The true Fourth of July orator OF to-
day will be careful to be broadly and only
patriotic. The country as whole is
what we are celebrating, and that belongs
to no party-to no idea. OF all that are
offered-men and ideas, be mindful
enough of your own interes. and thought
full enough of the interest of all to take
the BEST then there will be no lack of
faith in the majority-no danger in the
outcome--no distrust nor doubt but what
the bulk of national sentiment has pre-
vailed.
would that had the power to make
patriotism more and more living senti-
| ment as time goes on. AS a matter of
fact, our experiment of self-government
has worked 80 we'll that we are too apt to
trust it without thinking how vitality
each one is interested. Herein lies all
the danger. The Fourth of July is more
than q holiday-it is day tor reviving
the kind OF patriotism that makes states
men OF some and sovereigns of all i; the
day that reminds the newly naturaIized
citizen that he has undertaken q new
work for himself; that he counts for just
as much ia his adopted country as the
son of one of those men who came four
hundred years ago in one of those ships
that crept from over seas, and he should
value the privilege as not all do. 1t
should remind the American whose an
cestry dates back to the Mayfiower that
the genius OF his government lies in Its
universally of application-that our in
stitutions recognize no distinctions as be-
tween one generation and ten, so long as
good citizenship and patriotism prevail.
And yet we must all in reason see that
there 10 distinction between the novice
and the master-between the apprentice
and the fully initiated, even in matters
OF disagreement.
The great question of national prosper
ity engages us all, and the great states
man to be chosen to unity the wisdom of
US all is waiting in the womb OF time
He must have two great quaities--he
must know the truth without prejudice
and must be positive and convincing in
his utterances. Nothing short OF this
will serve.
Pardon me if have lapsed too much
into the seriousness of patriotic duty as
| understand it. This is an American
holiday-the greatest OF all. Itebelongs
to the United States alone, and young as
well as old delight to honor it.
Enjoy it without stint. Yon are all
sovereigns and princes of the blood royal.
Give full vent to your joyonsness. Each
has his own and the honor OF all to main
tain. There is no danger that liberty
will give place to license.
And SO long as this day shall continue
to be observed and celebrated in the
true spirit OF its institution. then we
shall 20 forward, and never become a
memory of dead greatness, like the glory
that was Greece and the grandeur that
was Rome.