The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-17
Patriotic Service.
To THE EDITOR OF The NEWS,


tacle than the sight of millions of cit
izens determining not by the bullet, but
by the ballot, those who are TO have
in cnarge the nations destinies.
"A weapon that comes down as siill
As snowflake falls upon the.sod
But executes n freemans will.
| As lightning does the will Of God:
And from its force nor doors nor locks
Can shield you-.,tis the ballot box"
There is redeening feature of the
present political campaign, in the fact
tbat, compared with many Others, there
are definite issues; parties positively diff
| fer; important quest Ions upon which vot-
| ors can say yes or no, are at stake. Ii Is
evident that party lines arc being thrown
! down, that old, wornout party associa
| tions are giving away TO new and fresh
necessities. The most promising indca-
| tion is the wave OF patriotic feeling, a
| desire that our nation may retain its
honor and good credit, preserving what
has cost SO much blood and treasure to
| establish.
The contest is of great interest to the
'old soldiers" most of whom will "vote
as they fought" They ask the co-opera-
tion Of all who appreciate the service they
have rendered. Our country is just as
much in need OF patriotic men and
women today rs 1t ever was, perhaps
more SO. Many of our young men wish
that they could have been at Gettysburg
and other battle1elds, where garments
rolled in blood. "Peace has its victories
no less renowned than war" 1t has been
well said that to die FOR ones country
has been usually considered the hig hest
ORDER Of patriotism; but to live for ones
country Is decidedly more patriotic and
profitable.
Whatever may be thought was ones
duty In regard to war in the past all must
agree that death is not the duty exacted
Of the patriots of today. 1t is, perhaps,
an unprejudiced, unbiased impartial
study of the great problems which have
become bones of contention bet weeu
capital and labor; of the great problems
whose solution must determine the limit
of individualism and the limit of govern
ment control or Interference. II is quite
impossible that men shall solve these great
problems wisely who have grown up in
homes where they are held In abeyance
to the relatively trihing questions of
what shall we eat, and what shall we
wear, aud what our neighbors say; or,
indeed, what the last novel or the last
poem says: subjects which those without
serious purpose regard as being of vital
Importance
The nation was saved from the evils of
slavery and disunion by great valor and
terrible sacrifices. We are all too ready
to cry out sit is tnished," and shut our
eyes in security and peace, forgetting
that 1t needs a continual saving. We are
often inclined to think the "boys in
blue" closed up the work, leaving us free
to pursue our private schemes of gain
and pleasure. But greater peril than
rebel armies will soon bs upon US if we
yield ourselves up to this false sense of
security. ga government Of the people,
oy he people and for the people" re-
quirss the constant interest and vjgilant
activity of the people. Without them it
must soon fall prey TO the Vaccinations
of bad men. IL "eternal vigilance" be
| the "price of liberty it is also the price
| Of honor, purity and safety in Republic
can government.
sThsn faint not, fslter not nor plead
Thy weakness: truth itsolf is strong,
The lions strength, the eagle, speed
| Are not alone youchsafed to wrong"
Every patriotic citizen has reason not
| only to be amazed but humiliated that
an array Of malignants, chariatans and
noisy, notorious incompetents have been
able to dictate the nomination for Presi-
| dent by one of the great political parties,
| driving out it's most sensible, respectable
and conservative members. One OF the
leaders in the movement, among its rul-
ing spirits, was the notorious Governor
Altgeld, pardoner OF anarchist murderers,
apologist for and defender Of mob
violence, idol of the Johann Most brand Of
red anarchists and bomb tbrowcrs, and
one Of the most potent allies Of the
wicked Dsbs insurrection.
Another ruling spirit was Senator
Isham q. Harris, head OF the Infamous
catal which dragged Tennessee out Of
the Union, against the strong protests Of
a majority Of the voters Of the state, and
then subjected the loyal people Of the
State TO rs bloody persecution as any
| in tho history Of the luquisi,ion.
Anothoc prominent leader was the
notorious Tilman nf South Carolina, who
pro, laimed with bravado that he was
"from the home OF secession" and
gloried In u. lie was still for secession
when things aid not go exactly 10 suit
him. The platform they adopted is not
only vapid and bombisiic, bat vicioas.
I,s positive declarations arc for measures
which would bring infimy and dishonor
to the country, violate every pledge and
obligation Of national. state and muni
cipaI governments. destroy public and
private credit, rrccipiiato universal
bankruptcy and Inevitably produce the
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