The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-29

The external evidence that we are
q patriotic people is plenteous.
The preparations going on so
busily for the reception and en-
tertainment next week of those sur
vivors of the civil war who are mem
bers of the Grand Army have their
source in the feeling we call patriot
ism. Next to doing service in defense
of ones country is doing honor to
those who did. The presence here of
these thousands Of bent and grizzled
veterans Of the war is ample evidence
that the young men of a generation
ago were patriots. They stand not
for themselves only as proofs of devo-
thousands who have been mustered
out since the final act at Appomattox
and the other thousands who gave
up their lives during the preceding
years that that surrender might be
compelled. And in the farther back
ground, out of the din and smoke of
inaction, are the fathers and mothers,
who gave them to their country; the
eager, busy women all over the North,
in city and hamlet and farmhouse.
who made and gathered and sent for
ward the sanitary supplies that gave
nourishment and comfort to the inva-
lided in camp and hospital Add to
this the distress, the loss of comforts.
uncomplainingly borne in all the homes
where incomes had fallen while prices
were advancing, and no doubt dare
express itself that, if patriotism con-
sists in making sacrifice for the land
Of the things men and women hold
most dear, the generation that met the
challenge of the South in 1861 was a
patriotic one.
But that generation has almost
passed away, and new one, born un-
der conditions of peace, asked to make
no such sacrifices for their country's
good, now forms the nation If we
would find answer to the question if
look for the answer? Where can we
find it except in the actions of men
that are inspired by the same spirit
that moved the masses from 1861 to
spirit is sacrifice. He who serves his
country for gain is chafferer, not a
patriot; he who serves it for the COM
pensation given makes no offering.
There must be surrender without rec
ompense of time or energy or property
or health or life itself to elevate action
to the high and noble plane of pa
triotism. War does not build the only
altar on which men and women can
make these offerings. Peace builds
them affairs in plenty. The duties of
citizenship call for the sacrifices quite
as heavily as does the tap of the
drums. Life itself can be given here
as well as there. The man who, in
public station or private life, does his
duty always makes sacrifice of selfish
interests, and thereby serves his coun-
LILY I1S VIII ulchGS DOllST the COnQ1-
ton of his fellow men, or any of them,
does service for the land. He who
tries to leave the world somewhat bet
ter for his having lived in it has the
spirit of the patriot.
These are the tests of patriotism in
times of peace. Parade, ostentatious
professions, defamation are not among
them. Acts furnish the answer In
public life does the man stand by what
is right or does he weakly yield to ex-
pediency? Does the representative
brave unpopularity because it is right
to do SO, or does he compromise with
error that he may retain his place?
In the ranks does the citizen do his
full duty? Does he use his Judgment
or make surrender of it to party? Does
he make effort to secure for his state
or municipality good government