The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-04-10
.Rms. ! Shopper year. In az vance
Six Months 80 Gems.


to refer to it, minor events, yet of i'm
portance pertaining to our country, as
well as some of the greater events,
both fade from our minds or become
mere ghosts of remembrance. Where
is there or where was there a nation
that has advanced as we have? Where
have greater odds been met and over
come? Where have men fought, suf-
fered and died in thousand different
ways for advancement as they have in
our own country And some "gazabo''
in Canada short time ago set forth
elaborate plans as to how they could
invade this country and take Washing
ton in six months. / think if they
tried it wecould have them all arrested.
We read and debate about this or
that great man of some other country.
and we have had them from the start,
dozens of them ali the time Your
views and mine may differ as to great
ness No matter. Turn back in your
history and you will find them there.
Are we as nation more strenuous
now than 100 years ago2 1 think not.
Men then had great push and energy,
and certainly combativeness, and 1
think, physically, were better able to
support these qualities than mon of to-
day. That their advantages were few
compared to those of today was through
no fault Of theirs. Our present stage
is in reality rapid evolution, and at
the present rate of progress, 100 years
from now history will have recorded
things of which we have no conception.
Whether or not we are less patriotic
than our forefathers is q question. In
the late war with Spain, the rapidity
with which the troops were mobilized
and the eagerness to volunteer would
go to disprove this, and martial spirit
engendered by that war has not yet
subsided, aided as it has been by the
growth of our navy and our taking
rank as world power. The flag is
still reverenced, but not as it
was in days gone by. An American
traveller has said as nearly as 1 can re-
member, that to really love it one only
has to be stranger in foreign port
and see it floating above the masthead
of an American vessel and it is some
thing one never forgets.
This is strictly an age of CONNER
cialism, aud in the race for prestige no
tender sentiment is stirred at sight of
the flag which meant so much to our
fathers before us. Are we forgetting
those things in the history of our past?
Does the sight of those old veterans
with their infirm step and "tattered
remnant" cause smile in our younger
generation, where tears should be the
homage paid them? God forbid! but
SO it seems. So strenuous have we be-
come, that were it permitted, picked
pigs feet, chewing gum, canned beef
and cigarette firms would expend
countless dollars to use the old flag as
a trademark in exploiting their wares.
This may be advancing the flag, but is
not conducive to the growth of patri-
otic sentiment. We hear little poem,
s'Hats off, the flag is passing by" we
read little story in the same strain,
but seldom do we see it in every day
life.
The world powers confront each
other today and peace is the cry, but
armed show is necessary to preserve
that peace. Who today can realize the
horrors of war among the real world
powers or who can foretell the result?
Many contend that this is bound to oc-
cur within the century. If come it
must, may we still lead as the "Strenu-
GUS Nation" and may the prayer and
watchword of all America be that our
country be right, but right or wrong
Our Country. I'll. E. M.