Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-02
Pure Patriotism.


President McKinley's eulogies of the
flag to-day are not a whit lacking in
eloquent sublimity in comparison with
the patriotic utterances of the earlier
orators as they rushed to the defense
Of Old Glory in hours Of danger. The
periodically inspired schoolboy need
not go back to any musty volume in or
der to find examples Of eloquence that
will stir the blood of the listeners at
the meeting Of the school literary so
ciety. Any daily paper printing reports
Of President McKinley's tour Of the
Northwest has contained several OF
these little oratorical gems every day.
They have flowed from the lips Of the
President with such evident inspira-
ton as to leave no question as to the
deep feeling back Of the words. AL
though 1t has not been customary to
include VIM. Mckinley among the
great orators Of the present, II would
appear that the frequency and beauty
of the sentiments with which the Pres
ident has responded to every opportu-
nifty to express his love for and conf
dence in the flag have entitled him to
a position as the leading exponent Of
patriotic eloquence during this redivi-
vus of latter day patriotism. What Is
more inspiring than to listen to the
words of the President at Dubuque!
This is a year of sublime patriotism.
From one end of your State to the other,
through all sections of the West over
which we have travelled we have heard
but enc music, the music of the nation;
but one song, the hymn of the republic.
ard we have seen but one flag, the flag of
our fathers and ours, the flag of happy,
re- united and never-to-be-broken nation:
the flag that expresses our hopes, our
purposes, our faith; the flag that ex-
presses the sacrifices we are wiling to
make for it anywhere and everywhere.
l never travel through this mighty
West--part of the Louisiana purchase.
Iowa., part of Minnesota and the Da-
kotas-that do not feel like Offering my
gratitude to Thomas jefferson and his
wisdom and foresight in acquiring this
vast territory, to be peopled by men and
women such as l have seen before me
as l journeyed through these States. You
have carried civilization, you have
brought education, you have built
churches, you have made this the garden
spot of the country and you have added
most brilliant stars to the constellation
of the nation
I simply .wahtto say one other thing:
that our flag in the Philippines still
waves there, and it waves not as a ban
ner of Imperialism, it waves not as a
symbol of oppression, but it waves as it
waves here and elsewhere, the flag Of
freedom, hope; home and civilization.
This Is patriotism, pure and simple
love of the flag, joy in the spread of
American principles and free institu-
tons under its benefcent folds. To
some 1t may.sound like partisan poll
tics. But 1t is their ears which are out
OF tune The "Amenv' stuck In the
throat of Macbeth after he had bathed
his hands In the blood of the good
King Duncan. 1t was none the less
the benediction after prayer. His own
act had tangled its music. So after
the Iowa platform of the ants, patri-
otto expressions may become to some
the voices Of partisanism. IL Is not the
fault OF patriotic utterance that this is
true, but the misfortune of those who
have put themselves In wrong rela-
lions to the aspirations of n liberty
loving and progressive people.-Sloux
City Journal. -
q 'ijiahcr Wages for 5000.