The times., 1901-06-14
Circulation sta ement.
Flag Day.

Flag Day.
This is an analytical age. and upon
such an occasion as the present celebra-
ton of Flag Day there are some people
prone 10 enquire what. after all, pa
triotism really is. History is sid TO re-
peat itself. and it may be that fifty or a
hundred years ago the same question
was asked. but 10 most Of us il seems
as If in our youthful years there was no
doubt about the nature Of patriotism.
The patriotic citizen shouted and sang
and marched - those days. perhaps,
with more sl,ontaneity than he does
now. and never stopped 10 ask why he
did il. any more than a dog has meta
physical speculation about the reason
why he wags his tail. However, no
body can positively say that a dog does
not indulge in metaphysics and some
Of the emotions in human beings which
appear to be spontaneous and unthink-
ing are really the result of thought
The sum OF it all is that patriotism. to
be Of much use, should be a conviction
rather than an emotion. It is good to
display the Stars and Stripes from all
the windows and fagstaffs. and to have
appropriate exercises in the schools and
elsewhere. on the fourteenth Of June,
but there is something more in Flag
Day than this, just as there is more in
the Fourth Of July than frecrackers
and Roman candles and strawberry fes-
tivals.
Some people, and they are not the
least intelligent of the inhabitants OF
these United States. may be heard to
say that they do not see the use Of be
ing loyal TO the flag, since it stands, as
they think. for so much wrong and in
justice. The present Government per
haps. has failed TO meet their views on
some great question. or they see undem-
ocratic tendencies in the social system.
cr they have not been treated well by
some great monopoly. and they are half
ready TO throw over their allegiance to
the flag. Sometimes, however, they are
not as ready as they suppose. There
have been cases in which these grum-
bling and discouraged people, after a
long absence in some foreign country,
have caught sight Of the red, white,
Consulate. and Immediately their hats
have come off and the tears have come
into their eyes, and they have broken
cut with q cheer before they knew what
they were doing. There is nothing like
absence TO make the heart grow fonder
of ole's own country.
But whether the discomfort Of these
people is real or only imaginary, they
cannot be spared, nor can they afford
10 throw of their allegiance. 1t is not
necessary, il order TO be a good Ameri-
can. to defend everything which is done
by Americans, or even to approve of
the doings Of the majority. Devotion TO
ones country is devotion not to her sell |
fish and narrow interests. but to her uI-
innate good. 1t might be best. for the
moment, for this country to oppress a /
weaker people, and cheat. and lie, and
tyrannize; but it would not be good in
the end.
When the fathers Of the Republic set
tied upon the Stars and Stripes as its
emblem, it is safe to assume that they
hoped for a great future for the land
which they had helped to make free.
It is not likely that they contemplated
any such gigantic increase Of territory
and population as has come about since
their day, but it is practically certain
that they desired for the little strip Of
land along the Atlantic coast, the /
United States as they knew them, free I
and just government. To them. the pa !
tIiot was the man who would strive /
with all his heart to carry ouJ the prin- /
ciplee Of the Declaration of Inde- (
pendence. and to keep invi0lare the 1
Constitution Of the United States.
Their idea Of patriotism still holds It (
is the only ideal which the flag can ever /
righfuly be called upon to protect.
When the children Of this land are /
taught 10 say, as they are in some Of !
the schools, that they give their heads. /
their hands. and their hearts TO their
country. it should be with the under /
standing that this VOW of service does
not bind them 10 do anything which /
they feel 20 be wrong. The safety of |
government rests on the determina- |
ti0n OF every citizen 10 do what he be /
lieves to be right He may modify his /
policy TO fit the circumstances; unable ,
10 reach the ideal. ne may determine to /
do right 50 far as he can, and not 10 /
attempt the impossible; but if he be a
true patriot ne viii strive 10 discover, (
not what is best for his individual in
terests without regard to others, but
what he may demand in justice to the
whole. Government is more or less a
question Of compromise and there viii
always be some citizens who are ahead
Jf the Government in clearness Of vision
and sagacity Of judgment, but these
are the mon whom the country most |
needs. There viii always be different
interests TO consider, and different
IDEALS 10 discuss; and in this lies the
hope Of democratic. government, for
what it is impossible for one man or
one party TO see. may be perceived by
the combined Judgment Of many men.
Democratic Chances in 1904.
\ New York newspaper of the Mug
gump persuasion has arrived at the
conclusion that the Democratic party
contains no Presidential timber worthy
Of respectful consideration. Mr.. Car
isle and Mr.. Whitney are not popular.
Ar- Hill and Mr. German are mere pol