Graham guardian., 1898-06-03
DUTY TO COUNTRY.


letter written by the mother OF
three stalwart young men, who are
now studying to complete their
yet who have been
strongly inclined to enlist. One OF
them was determined to do so and
only prevented by circumstances
beyond his control or that OF his
parents. and should there be an
other call for volunteers he may
break over all restraint and be-
come recruit. This mother is
racked with anxiety upon the sub
icct. She is an AmericaA through
and through, is descended on both
sides from generations OF New
England ancestors and her patriot
| ism cannot be questioned. But
then there is the mothers love for
her offspring. :,
It is the same old question and
the same old struggle that mothers
have had to grapple with and en-
gage in ever since the sons Of men
began to oppress each other. What
| is tho mothers duty? How shall
she train herself 10 feel and how
shall she counsel her son? Shall
she cling to him, and keep him at
home that he may be preserved
from wounds and death, or shall
she smother her instincts, stifle her
hearts desires and tell him to so
at his country's call! There is a
light in which any mother can
view these questions so as to re-
move the mists from her heart,
says the Deseret Ne'oS.
Let her remember that life here
|rs short, moment merely, but
that hereafter it is long, an eternl
ty; that the direction given to the
soul during its momentary stay
here determines. It's destiny
throughout the endless future; and
that the only true happiness sen
tient beings can experience in thus
life or the next springs from do
ing right. When these things are
8 remembered the question of en-
listment becomes merely a ques
tion as to the side upon which the
weight of duty lies.
If there rest upon a young mar
Q obligations of a high, sacred and
j binding character which be cannot
{ honoraoly disregard, yet which
I would be violated were he to en-
T. list, let him show his patriotism IL
| some other way than by going tt
n the front. Butt f no such restraints
y are upon him, or if his country
t call is so urgent as to outweigh
:. them, it is not right thai ties o
d kln.ship, even those of mother
t for her son, should keep him a.
: home when his country needs him
, All progress is achieved by means
| of sacrifice, and when human be
t ipgs refuse to make sacrifice they
begin to sink in the scale of being
1t is better TO go to battle and
suffer privation, and be wounded
and even mutilated, than it is to
shrink from the call of ofPlain and
sacred duty. 1t is better to be a
dead patriot than a living coward
Then let every mother who has a
son of age and physique suitable
for a soldier, consider his respon
sibilities and judge from them and
not from her own heart whether or
not he should enlist; and If the pre-
ponderance of moral obligation is
IN favor OF obedience to a call to
arms, let her make o cheerful sacri'
flee and give free consent.
1t is only when young men have
mothers such as this that they can
become race to either win or de.
serve mankind's respect. Only
such women can bring heroes into
the world. A people that shrinks
from war because it is harsh, cruel
or deadly, Notwithstanding that
duty demands that they engage in
it, will dwindle away and sink into
oblivion covered with the contempt
of all mankind.
J. r. Lassator has a lot Of fine
Irish patatoes for sale for $1.5O