The San Francisco call., 1896-06-26
LOCAL PATRIOTISM.

In his address at the great ratification
meeting at his home in Paterson, on Mon
day evening, Mr.. Hobart turned aside for
a time from National politics to impress
upon his fellow-citizens the Importance of
civic patriotism. 81 invoke you, Republi-
cans and Democrats alike" he said, ''to
do even more than you have done, to
manifest more civic pride more public
spirit. We want to make a city
of comfortable homes for working people,
and have ample facilities for them to
earn enough to own and enjoy their
homes. 1t is to the advancement of this
idea that 1 have devoted my time, my
energy and my work to the best of my
ability in order that 1 might more fully
show my regard and affection for those
around me-those with whom / am in
friendly contact every day of my life"
AT first thought it may seem strange
that this plea for local patriotism should
have been uttered by great statesman
who had just been nominated for the high
Office of Vice President of the United
States. One would naturally expect that
on his first address to his fellow-citizens
after his nomination he would have spoken
to them of great National issues, to the
total exclusion of the little affairs OF local
development. 1t is significant evidence
OF his deep and abiding civic patriotism
that he should have felt it and spoken of
1t at that time. and we can easily learn
from it one of the reasons why he is so
esteemed, honored and loved by his neigh
bors and fellow-citizens.
AS matter of fact, nothing could have
been more appropriate to the occasion and
to the issues of the time than that address.
The Republic is but an aggregation o.
communities. Protection to the indus
tries OF the Nation means, of course, pro-
lection to the industries of each locality.
On civic patriotism the truest national
patriotism is based. He serves his country
with honor who serves his city with zeal.
1t is the men VINO advance the welfare of
their nsighbors that can be most con-
fidently trusted to advance the welfare of
the whole people. The home industry
merges inseparably into the national IN
dustry, and devotion to the happiness of
the fireside leads to devotion to the pros
perity and glory of the Republic.
From the brief extracts of his speech
that have come to us, it is clear that Mr..
Hobart is one of the men whom the
American people delight to honor and
whom the Republican party is proud to
raise TO office. We need more men of his
kind in the country. We need them par
ticularly in California. We need men who
put forth their money, their energy and
their time to the building up of industries
in order that their cities may shave COM
Portable homes for workingmen, with
ample facilities for them to earn enough to
own and enjoy their homes" That is the
Republican principle of protection reduced
to practice. 1t is to enable such men to
accomplish such work that the Republican
party exists and battles for the cause of
American industry against the world.
There will be no condemnation of Mr..
Hobart for his local patriotism. When he
spoke for his home he spoke for every
community in the land. He sets an ex.
ample which every man of capital and
capabilities should follow. Ali who stand
for American industries at all must stand
for their home industries. Civic patriotism
is no mean virtue and well deserves reeoz-
milton, even among the great things in
volved in the National politics of Presi-
Dental years.