The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-05
Extracts from Fourth of July
Grafton Delivered in LincOInviIIe
by It's Leading Statesman and
Philosopher.

Bv FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS.
Copyright, 1903, by Frederick Upham
Adams.
Col Monroe accepted an invitation
IN deliver the Fourth of July grafton
in Lincolnville, and Judge Sawyer has
kindly favored me with the notes of
the same, from which the following
extracts are made:
"As an anniversary of the winning
of our independence from England this
dav long since has lost its significance.
II never occurs to the average man in
the full prime of life to celebrate the
date on which he attained that inde-
nendence which arrives with the age
of 21 One hundred years ago, when
national independence was a new
thing; when the youth of the country
met in celebration with those soldiers
and patriots who actively participated
in the struggle which secured it; when
the fleets and armies of the old world
were a standing menace to it's per-
petuity-those were the days when it
was fitting that patriotism be invoked
TO the end that what had been won
should be retained.
"A nation so great in area, resources,
population, wealth and prestige and so
favored in its geographical position
that foreign invasion is beyond the
dream of warcraft, has no need to in
wife a consideration of days and of
conditions which never can return.
Neither have l any sympathy with that
alleged brand of patriotism which con-
sists in boasting, self-laudation and
glorihcation, with our national great
ness as a subject. If we as a people
combine all of the splendid virtues
which viii be enumerated to-day by
thousands OF orators, a proper degree
of modesty should suggest that such
encomiums be reserved to those citi-
zens of foreign birth and allegiance
who have been thus impressed by
study of our transcendent superiority.
If we have not reached that exalted
national plane such oratory is worse
than wasted.
The world progresses very slowly
away from the patriotism of savagery.
Civilization yet thinks it necessary to
stir the blood of it's young with war
songs battle cries, recitals and pic
lures of bloody encounters, and the
hero worship of victorious generals.
The savages of six continents know
no other kind of patriotism. That In
dian is esteemed the greater who on
any public occasion is most resource,
ful in language extolling his personal
prowess a S a warrior, and the great
ness of his tribe He chants the tale
Of unnumbered victories; is silent con-
corning unnumbered defeats.
Our civilized orators usually do not
nnd it necessary to sound their per-
sonal praises. When a speaker de-
clares that he represents the peerless
city of the principal country of the
greatest state of the grandest nation
on the face of the globe. the magma
uon of his hearers should supply the
inference that the orator has no mean
idea of the honor conferred on himself
and no hesitancy in accepting it.
Patriotism is not national vanity
II was that spurious patriotism that
Johnson had in mind when he declared
mat Patriotism is the last refuge of
the scoundreI
Patriotism is that love of ones
country which impels a man or d won-
an TO make personal sacrifices in its
behalf
Patriotism is not a blind worship
OF any form of government or of any
institution or set of institutions. When
you hear a man declaiming about the
sacredness of institutions or the sa-
credness of any thing except sacred
thlngs, keep one eye on him and the
other on your pocketbook A thousand
governments and ten thousand human
institutions have been weighed in the
9dlance of justice and found wanting.
Fatrots have established them and
patriots have overthrow them. No
man is gifted enough to codify patriot
ISM Patriotism is justice aroused to
"A patriot is a man who is anxious
20 give more to his country than he
possibly can receive from it. He is
Une who, without hope of gain or
thought of fame, lays his services or
try.
=. patriot is one who is honest with
me country of his birth, and to the
community in which he lives. A pa
IIot is a social gentleman. He is
ouINalrous. honorable and considerate
as citizen.
l wish to make absolutely clear my
inception of what constitutes pa
LIotsm. One may take advantage of
49,, ,i.s helghbor and yet be a patriot. but
~ moment he attempts to take adj
oan,age of the community, the state
~ lhe nation he is no longer patriot.
~ ne may be in debt to individuals. but
=. cannot be remiss in his obligations
MS country and remain a patriot.
q consistent club man is exact in con-
lining to the rules and ethics Of his
Isahlzation; a Jealous church MEM
a. needs no prompting to do his full
Nv and a true patriot esteens his
izuntry as grander club and mis- cit
4Snlp as a social religion.
hen burglar enters and despoils
~ mousse he inhicts a financial injury
~ an individual; when a man with
nIus fair dues or service to a club or
easurch he works an injury to a limit
r number of persons. but when he
oI,S his hand into the public treasury,
'als to pay into the same every dol
c. uue from him, he has committed a
dIne against all of the living and has
"s an injury to coming general ions.
rue citizenship demands from the
,rlu!Vldual exact justice to the COM
UNITY of which he is a member. but
patIiotism transcends citizenship, The
ra.Iiot is lover; his country is his
s- Fatriotism is the flame which serves
a. beacon light to citizenship II is