, 1897-12-09
THE SONS ENTERTAIN.


CONTINUED from page IL
United States and the advancement of
our free public school system. Its i'm
mediate benefits are home benevolence,
the care of its sick, the burial of its
dead. the protection of n assistance
to all concerned with it who may be
in need"
It is non-sectarian and non-political,
and in the choice of church and party
every member is free to act n eXer-
else his individual right; but his duty
is to insist that the acts of the church
and party shall always be SO directed
as to promote our country's welfare and
protect its institutions.
To be ii member. 4 person must have
been born on the soil or within the jur-
isdiction of the United States, and must
believe in the existence of a Supreme
Being as the creator and preserver of
the universe Its motto is. God, Our
Country and Our Order"
The Order of Cincinnati, which had
its origin in 1883. whose founders were
our revolutionary sires and among the
membership of which may be counted
most of our presidents, many of our
statesmen and generals of the armies Of
the United States, who have been and
still are members of the Patriotic Or
der Sons of America.
With such tenets, with such patriotic
ground work of principles, and such
loyal support of good and great men
as compose its rank and file. who can
tell the possibilities for good of such
an institution as is | ere founded? Is
it not entitled to the :asnect, support
and patronage Of every io,er of his
country. every American?
] would like to analyze the platform
Of principles of this patriotic order but
| am warned that my time is limited.
You will discover. however, that no
governing principle of loyalty to Jul
government, its institutions, and future
welfare are wanting. Civil liberty, in
its broadcast sense. is here found to be
the very ground work. chief corner
stone of the order, and the extension
and preservation of which the chief and
paramount concern of its every mem.
Der. While the evolution of a nation or
nations is conceded, yet the preserva-
ton of our constitution and the liber-
ty of the American people is the CEN
trail thought.
If the American conscience could
speak today. the voice would resound
around the world, and compel Spain to
listen to the voice of reason-the voice
of liberty. The success of the Spanish
the storing up of the day of wrath. The
success of the home rule army of Cuba
means another flag set in the sky dedi.
Gated to self-government and human
liberty. which the sons of America SO
much love.
We are constantly told that the Gu
Ian has nc government, no state house
and no laws. Well, what had Washing.
ton at Valley Forge? They may have
no capitol building, but if they meet in
open field or forest with only God and
the stars to cover them, embued only
with the spirit Of patriotism and love OF
liberty, l am for that government JUS,
the same.
!, Abraham Lincoln said that 70 mar
had a right to govern another man
without that mans consent. 1t is also
true that no nation has the right to
govern another nation without that ma.
TONS consent. Yet we sit on our peace
full soil, while the great nations are
numbering the citizens of the weaker
nations, and look each other in the
face and say. Am | my brothers keep,
err"
You ask: Are you teaching the Mon,
roe doctrine? l answer, Yes, and more,
This is the natural evolution of the
Monroe doctrine and as we evolve bet
ter nations and better avs we must
will see in this that my thought is ad.
dressed to the conscience. You ask,
What can conscience do? Conscience
signed the Magma Charta. Conscience
signed the declaration of independence.
Conscience preserved the union and
tore down the slave pen and whipping
post. Conscience bore the flag up the
storm-swept heights of Lookout noun
tain. Conscience freed a million slaves
and will, in the evolution of time and
nations, do away with war, and real
glory will be found in the paths of
peace. and we will catch the meaning
of Him who said. Peace on earth, good
will toward men"
A great man has said: THE evolu-
ton of the men, women and children
make the nation" Tine nation, to be
free, must allow its citizens freedom.
"Tis the law of liberty, as it is the law
OF love, the more you give the more you
have. II o by prejudice, restrain
your neighbor of his right OF con-
science. both you and your neighbor
are slaves to your prejudice, and when
you overcome your prejudice you and
your neighbor are both free. Our dear,
bigoted. brave. narrow, old forefa!hers
came here to find freedom, to worship
God. and soon began to make kindling
wood Of thOse who asked tho Sam