The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-04-28

and patriot as zone who loves an,
faithfully serves bis country Thss
definitions are generally accepted q
correct, and they should be well KEEP
in mind. especially at a time Of war
like excitement when the word pat
riotism is on every lip, and an appea
to patriotism from Whomsoeyer
may come and by whatever motive i
may be prompted, is sure to draw pop
ular applause. It should be CONSTANT,
remembered that to serve ones coun
try faithfully means not only to pro
TESS love for it, or to have a sentimsnta
attachment for it, but to consider viii
conscientious care what is best for it
welfare and its honor, and then to dc
ones duty to it according to that under
standing. honestly, with courageous
devotion, and 10 spirit Of self-sac
ri6ce.
We are apt to admire as the highest
exhibition Of patriotism the voluntary
sacrifice Of ones life in battle for ones
country. Inasmuch as life may ordi
narily be assumed the possession We
should be least inclined to part with,
and as the deliberate sacrifice OF it is
justly thought to require a high degree
Of devotion and courage, the popular
appreciation Of the spirit which
prompts such an offering Is certainly
well merited, But the peculiar lustra
in which this kind Of patriotism ap-
pears, and which seizes upon the popu-
lar imagination, easily makes rs depre-
ciate another kind, which, although
less brilliant, may be no less heroic,
no less f-sacridcing, and sometimes
even far more useful to the common
good. The glory surrounding warlike
achievement and the homage lavished
upon the martial hero are apt to make
especially the young and ardent forget
that while sometimes the interests Of a
country may be furthered and its honor
better protected by means OF war Of
all the means by which such objects
can be accomplished, war Is the most
cruel, barbarous, and abomniable, and
should be reaorted to only in tho last
extremity, when there is no moro hops
Of any other means succeeding. The
man who in times Of popular excite
ment boldly and unhinchingly rasists
hot-tempered clamor for an unnecessary
war, and thus exposes himself to the
opprobrious imputation Of lack Of
patriotism Or Of courage, to the end Of
saving his country from a great calam.
ity, is, as to loving and faithfully
serving his country, at least as good
patriot as the hero Of the most daring
feat Of arms, and far better one than
those who, with an ostentatious pre-
teuce Of superior patriotism cry for
war before it is needed, especially if
then they let others do the lighting
AS there is nothing more dangerous
to the welI-bSing Of a monarchy than
prince incessantly thirsting for mar
tial glory, 50 there is no delusion more
dangerous to the peace, the prosperity,
the honor and the liberties Of a free
people than the one that a needless or
wanton clamoring for war on every
occasion Of foreign embodiment is
sign Of patriotic spirit True patriot
ism in time Of peace demands that we
should vigilantly and actively endeayor
to obtain tho enactment Of wise laws
the appointment Of able and honest
public serYants the redress Of wrongs
and the reform of abuses; the expulsion
from public place Of drones and rogues;
the restraint Of lawlessness and vio-
lence, the preservation Of security and
good order and, finally, the mainten
ance Of an honorable name among the
nations Of the world BY dealing with
them on principles Of fairness and mag
prefering at all times, in the
adjustment Of difficulties, peaceful
means to tile savage arbitramsnt Of
war, and resorting to this only whoa
We eau oonscientiously affirm that no
peaceable ezpedient has been left I'M
tried, and when We are sure that our
reasona for war can without fear Of an
adverse Judgment be submitted to the
opinion Of civilized mankind
True patriotism Is incompatible with
any selfish motive that does not accord
with the public interest The journal
ist or the public agitator generally who,
while knowing that just demands
might still be satisfied BY peaceable
olamors for war and stirs
up popular passion to increase bis popu
larity or profit & not only not patriot
but a public enemy just as much as # |
heopenly and persistently urged the
lawless element among as to robbery 1
murd and arson % share lnthe spoil /
We paet our army and our navy
lnat character and their calling /
They ere so Be- the Eight arm Of patriot /
isn % times o. conflict Patriotism I
wishes them not only to be able toll
fight but also to Ike lighting when 4
fighting is necessary Bnt The same I
patriotism forbids thein to clamor for q I
fight . long Is fighting isnotnecessary. I
IT officers of tie army Or tie navy
should ever use their influence 70 bring I
on g war while peace might h0nonbly i
Be maintained e furnish them oppor /
tunitles fer blowing how brave and I
eNfiIfuI Ehav aVa Hr1 ~ faaraaaa thlfrk