Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-31

PATRIOTISM AND THE FLAG.
Danger that the Flag May Become
Merely Fetish.
Much has been said within recent
years about the teaching Of patriotism
In the public schools OF the United
States. To the end that 1t might be en-
couraged, many Of the schools have
been provided with flags, and in con-
siderable number formal exercises take
place from time to time, when the flag
is paraded, saluted, and the pupils
pledge allegiance to 1t. The sight Is
always impressive and gratifying.
Yet 1t may properly be asked whether
there be not some danger lest the enthu-
siasm thus aroused expend itself upon
the sign rather than upon the thing
signifed; that is to say, whether our
patriotic endeavons may not. unless
wisely directed, produce sentimental
attachment to an emblem instead Of
creating type of civic life whereby the
emblem Is genuinely glorifed. 1t Is Of
the highest Importance that our chill
drcn and youth should be taught that
the nation expects them to devote prop.
crty and life, IL need be, to her defense,
and that they must regard the Integrity
of the state as their peculiar care. But
the possible danger which turks In
teaching patriotism primarily by means
Of this beautiful symbol Is that 1t en-
courages the pupil to look for an inter-
national rather than a domestic field
wherein to display his devotion. When
Spanish mob, incensed by what 1t
considers bitter provOcation, tears the
Stars and Stripes to pieces or an Irish
poet sings of bastard freedom" and a
''fustian flag" he Is duly reused. The
flag seems to him to have been immedi-
ately and grossly insulted, and he re-
sents the insult; but so long as 1t waves
undisturbed by any hostile hand or
hooking word, he is tempted to feel that
1t is safe, even though corruption, greed
and craftsmanship bear sway under it's
very shadow. He is so convinced that
where the sign is deliberately dishon-
ored the thing signified must be insult
ed as to take for granted the wholly diff
ferent proposition that so long as the
flag Is outwardly respected the state
must be secure.
Under scarce any form Of government
can this fallacy produce more lamenta-
bic results than in great republic. 1t
was long since wisely observed that
1.-THE danger to small republic comes
from without; to great republic 1t
comes from within" Indeed, any one
who rereaids the knights" of Aristo-
planes must be struck with the cogent
application Of it's sarcasm to latter-day
politics. Mutatis mutandis, Cleon and
the Sausage-seller are with us still,
striving as best they may to outbd each
other In the favor Of Demonstrating
small account, to be sure, of what De-
mos really needs, but fertile in devices
for pleasing his ear, tickling his palate.
fostering his self-love, and befogging
his judgment. Now, as then, too, each
Is prodigal Of protestations that he and
he alone is truly loyal to the good name
of his master, and that II Demos will
but put the household quite unreserved-
| lhtO Ills httplAE, Hc Will ElNC tbDtClil
attention to it's social dignity and inhu-
ence among the neighbors. One remem-
bers the eulogy upon Col. Yell of Yell
vile, that though it was true his books
did not balance, none could doubt that
his heart beat warmly for the native
land" 1t serves to remind us that the
deeper mans hands go into the public
pocket, the louder may become his vo-
alterations of devotion to the flag, and
the fiercer his indignation against any
who may insult 1t. Nothing, indeed, can
suit his purposes better than to foster
n worship of the sign so blind and fatu-
Gus as to brand as unpatriotic all In
quiry into the reality signified.
1t Is a matter of commonest expert
ence that the higher the moral quality
of any emotion, sentiment or theory of
life, the more dangerous the husk Of 1t
Is likely to prove when emptied of ethi-
cal content. There Is distinct ten
dency In some quarters to-day to treat
everything as glorious which the flag
can be made to cover, and to denounce
as unpatrlotic all critical inquiry into
the real ethical conditions of national
life. The mass Of Americans have yet
to realize that patriotism is less an i'm
pulse than duty, and that the man
who makes most searching inquisition
into the failings and possible iniquities
that mar our public life, pleading for
simple, unambiguous public speech,
and the sternest and most uncompro-
missing integrity in public act, may
prove to be a truer patriot than he
whose lave of country never goes be-
yond the flag, which he bespatters with
tawdry adjectives, and degrades by
meaninglessly Haunting II in the face
of sister nations.-"The Flag-a SYM
Dol or Fetish" In the Century.
Some Good Tattooing.
Why should we not all of us be ideu-
titled from youth upward by a tattooed
pnorlrc Man who val have 1rxu..