The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-05-21


debasing cult of animal worship
The Asyrrian confederation fell
through its own looseness. Babylo-
mia was debauched into dissolution.
The Phoenecians failed for lack OF
political instinct. The Persian En-
pire died when its martial spirit had
fled. None of them had learned that
any system of Of government is bad
that makes one man subject to the
will and caprice of another. This
principle was made manifest in the
ministry Of Christ, and only fully
vindicated by the American Revolu-
| tion.
Within our own history, abe evil
dences of decline in patriotism had
everywhere become manifest. What
with prosperity in mercantile pur-
suits, expansion In territory and in.
fusion Of foreign blood, the nation
was rapidly losing sight of the fund
amental truths that had cemented
the fabric Of the Republic. But the
era of centennials led to inward ex-
animation. From Moultrie to Boston
and westward there swept food of
patriotic sentiment that did more to
arouse the individual and to unite
sections than any peaceful event in
the nations history. Great events
are but the elimination of the silent
forces that make them inevitable.
The pillar by the Jordan was at last
revealed again, and the people again
worshipped at the shrines of their
forefathers.
1t was more than an awakening.
1t was new birth. Grandfathers
and grandmothers walked among us
again, and talked to us through his
tory written and unwrittcn through
dusty portrait and faded gown;
through manuscript and relic;
through story and traditions --until
the new forces seized upon the in
spiration of the hour and sprung in.
to active being. Old patriotic socie-
ties received new life and new ones
were created and multiplied. The
Society of the "Cincinnati," ;" founded
by Washington and his brother ofIlc.
ers, which had been reduced to n
fifth of its original membership, re-
vived its dormant branches and again
appeared before the people with in
creased honor and esteem, and with
nothing to fear from the mistaken
jealousy that once pointed to it as
the nucleous OF an aristocracy. Sons |
Of the Revolution and Sons of the |
Revolution were created |
on broad principles and maintained |
a friendly rivalry. Daughters of the
Revolution and Daughters OF the
Revolution were formed |
almost simultaneously, and these
with the numerous other organiza-
tions with n'ore or less kindred OBJ
jects, have brought such aids to his
toric research and patriotic endeav-
or that every element of politics and
society has become charged with the
new spirit; while the seeds of their
influence have spread even into dis
tant lands where the soil is good and
the fruit abundant.
AS have endeavored to show gen
eaolOgy and tradition enter largely
into these movements, and it Is here
that Is made manifest the wonderful
faculty in woman in whom
'Divination seems heightened TO Its highest
rover"
The aged aunt or the failing grand
mother is found to be o store house
of family tradition and genealogical
chains. 1t seems in them that,
"Old experience shall attain
To something like prophetic strain"
What interest surrounds their re-
,itals of the times and the figures of
Did! Their stories, nurtured by the
instinct of motherhood, bear upon
hem the very stamp of truth. In the
abor of greetings a family tree, which
through several years, /
ound that nine-tenths of all the ac-
material had come from
vomen,-from their seemingly mex
stores of anecdote, tradition
md buried records.
From such sources, we learn that q
of one who may be here
onight was prisoner at New York
n 1776, and that being insulted by a
British officer, he promptly knocked
him down and escaped in the petit
'Oats'of friendly bum-boat woman.
The grandfather Of another was
he largest man in the American
lrmy, and at Valley Forge his serv-
ces to Washington were indispens.
'ble. Another grandfather was q
yidower at eighteen and he found
in marching to Boston
ipon the news Of Lexington. And
till another assisted in the capture
If British boat in the Delaware
aden with vinegar, which article of
iiet added so much to the rations of
he patriot troops that descendent
n recOunting the exports says: $50
you see have in my veins not only
'Ome OF the blood Of the revolution
'ut also some Of the vinegar" One
more story relates to the privations
VI the officers of the army. Those of