The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-20

AMERICAN PATRIOTISM.
Its Value Discussed By
Rev. Mr.. Phelan.
Good Results Which Have Followed
War.
Patriotism is Next
Thing to Religion.
NEXT
Upon 1t Safety of Our Institu.
lions Depends.

X Fl
Every seat was taken at the West End
Meth 1dist church last evening, the occa-
sion telng aone of series Of rallies that
have been In pro- re at the church every
evening this week. Special music was
furnished at the services latt evening,
there being trombone solo by MIR. Co.
nant.
Rev. II. Il. Dunnack, the pastcr, pre-.
sided and introduced as the speaker of
the evening Rev. q. G. Phelan of West
brook. whose subject would be ''The Val.
ne of American Patriotism" MIR. Phe-
Ian delivered very eloquent address on
this topic, and time and again was inter-
rupted by the most hearty applause. He
said, In port;
"War is tsrrible thing, but when
louk about me and see this vast republic
1 sse that 1t Is not such terrible thing
after ali. If 1t had not been for the pa
triots at Gettysburg, would not now be
enjoying what am today. Some Of our
friends have always been sentimental
over war and some OF them got santi-
mental last year. when the war with
Spain broke ont. They ara now deery-
ing Imperialism. are slaught ring VIII
liam Mckinley and are using all of the
invectiys that they possibly can; but
tell you that am glad that William Mc-
Kinley was President of this country last
year when that war broke out. He has
been the closest student of the acts OF
Warrington Of any man in the natl IN,
s1ye one, Senator Henry Cabot Ledge of
Massachusetts,
"1As next thing to religion is patriot
ism and al man hasn't much blood in
his veins unless he has patriotism. Had
the war IL st year EsinCel, would have
been one Of the enlisted men. / believe.
IS Bishop Brooks put 1t, that Jesus
Christ was our greatest soldier. he was
willing to die for all mankind.
"You VIII rememter that English
piracy WAS at It's hiehes when Elizabeth
was On the throne. Ih. s. pirates who
sAi1sd the seas for p'under were able t.
gain much knowledge ami they returned
home realizing the. remarkable adyan-
tages of their country. / do not bsIleve
in PIRACY. but piracy at that time was
primary school f r the adYancement of
better things than people had up TO
that time possessed. AS a result England
went up into higher scale and advanced
of England and we have just right to
be down there in the Philippines SO that
we may offset the injuries that have been
done for centuries. Had 1t not besn for
patriotism, Japan would today have
her gates olcsed. But she = Is 4 fast
advancing and will be the power of tie
east If she keeps on at the pace which
she is going. This is expansion.
s'There is value In patriotism. 1t is
oloseIy allied with the truest, highest ana
best interests of religion. 1t is heroism
and patriotism that lift a nd attract
men to a higher and better state of Iiy-
ing.
"What next? Fres schools, where the
national airs are sung. Free churches
and a free altar. No imposition OF tax
laid upon the poor man working for 81
g day and who has seven or eight little
children. Without patriotism, your coun-
try is in danger; your church is In dan-
ger; every free institution is In danger;
your Congress. your Senate. and your
Presidential chair. Take away patriotism
and the Stars and Stripes viii go down
for another emblem. Let us first and
last remember that the value of Ameri-
can patriotism is beyond that Of any
thing In this world. We live to think of
Nelson, and of Wolf at Quebec, and Of
our mighty heroes that the world has had
and ON account of whom the world is
better. And then we come along and
think of our Washington, our Grant and
our Dewey.
"We stand in this little church tonight,
but IL is one OF the modest monuments
which has been achieved by our fathers.
Let us maintain them. The old Capi-
toll where stands the White House and the
national buildings, let us maintain
and keep them firm and pure
AT the conclusion of the address the
audience Joined IN singing "Amsrica."