The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-05-02
PATRIOTISM.

No one can say but that there are
plenty of patriotic Americans in Hon.
olulu. 1t is the fashion to look down
upon patriotism or any exhibition OF
feeling as a little out of taste. Feel
inps should be curbed, and even when
a crisis comes, it is good form to ap-
pear as if nothing extraordinary was
happening. IT,
But that is not the way with the
hotter blood and the more youthful
minds of the descendants of the Anne
rican settlers here. or of those who
have of late years settled upon our
shores. If Uncle Sam wants men,
there are those who are ready and will
ling to at once express themselves as
upon his side, and who are not afraid
of ridicule for being, as some will be
willing to sheer, surprising by any
chance war should not break out, too
previous" This is the kind of spirit
one likes to see.
There is no lack of money in the
United States, and therefore there s
no lack of means to buy food for pow
der, as there was no lack of money in
the decaying Roman Empire to buy
food for the sword.t But it is not
mercenary troops that make nation
great What makes 4 nation great in'
war is when its sons spring forward
at the battle call, and, leaving ease and
ambition at home, willingly go for
ward as plain soldiers or sailors to
fight their country's battles. 1t is
this spirit that we like to see Animal
ing the American in the present cri-
sis. 1t is not merely putting his
hand into his pocket and helping to
supply war subsidy, but he comes for
ward and gives himself. From the
college, from the field, from the busy
mart and from the calm of scl"Gt.ti"
study. from the ambitious whirl of
politics, and from the quiet home of
independent means, the men volun.
teer to give, not their means only but
themselves, and their women are
proud that they should do 50. This
is true national spirit.
AS long as the same spirit permeat-
ed the Romans, they were the conqu-
errors of the world. When the national
spirit died out, and they hired the
Goth, the Avar, the Gaul or the Lom-
bard, to do their fighting by proxy,
they became the worthless and effete
dregs of noble race that deservedry
was crushed under the iron heel itself
had hired 49,. Won
But modern war doss not only call
for heroism from it's men, it calls for
the greater heroism Of its women. No
nation, worthy of its name, but finds
that it's delicately nuraured and aes-
thetic minded women are ready to
leave their dainty homes, leave their
high mental culture, their philosoph-
ic studies, their dilletanteism, their
music and all the kindred arts, and
IcdIltSSly Hicco VIC grim ldCtS VI wal
in it's most gruesome aspect. F)r it
is not the wind rush of victory, when
the blood is stirred, the pulses beat,
and the very feeling of pain is lost in
the hurry and intoXication of fierce
combat, which calls forth the great
est instances of heroism. 1t is the pa
tient enduring work of the hospitals,
the sleepless nights by raving bed
sides, the horrors of the operating Ia
BILE, which call forth the endurance
of that best of our race-Woman.
And American womanhood is as
ready to go to the front today as
American womanhood was ready to
do so in the war of the Rebellion and
English womanhood did so under Miss
Nightingale in the Crimean war.
There are those on the Islands who
laugh at enthusiasm, but The Stal
honors it, Enthusiasm for a cause
shows the freshness of the human
race; shows that it is virile and no
decadent. And every American, maj
or woman, who feels this cause of hi
or her country set the blood coursins
like quicksilver through the veins
can say, ST am worthy of my ances
try. 4a lnFt3