Morris tribune., 1903-07-11
EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS BY
HON. FRANK n. EDDY
At Dodge Center, rlinn., July 4, 1908.

Al DOuSS SCMSCA' AHAss ~-S -
NV Friends and Fellow Citizens: l
have been talking about American
achievement on the field OF battle,
but it should be borne in mind that
the accomplishments of peace cast
those of war in the shadow. That
high, important and sacret as the
duties of a soldier are the duties OF q
citizen are higher, more important
and more sacred. The duties OF the
soldier are periodical. Those OF the
citizen are perpetual. Even in time
of war comparatively few can serve ID
the ranks, but every individual is a
citizen and has citizenship duties to
perform. 1t is a great thing to die
for ones country. 1t is infinitely
greater to live for it and live right.
In my twenty years of public SER
vice two marked characteristics OF the
American people have become indel-
bly, impressed upon my mind. The
extraordinary care and alertness with
which they guard they country's in
terests in time of war, and their mon
umental indifference to those same
interests in time of peace. Men will
sacrifice their best years, their sub
stance and even life itself on the altar
of their country in time OF war, and
many of these same men will not per
form their dates Of citizenship in
time of peace unless they are paid for
lit. Should the news be flashed to us
that foreign my had invaded our
shores, you, like your fathers before
you, would leave the pillow in the fur
row, the hay unraked in the meadow,
the harvests ungathered in the field
and rush to the defense of the flag
vet there are whole lot of you under
the sound of my voice today-Who
wonld not sacrifice half bushel of
potatoes to attend a caucus or give
up an hours time to go to the polls
and vote, and this is equally true OF
everv audience that assemblies be-
meath the flag today. Yet, unless we
faithfully, steadfastly, and above all
intelligently perform our political
duties every dollar spent in the de-
Tense of our country has been wasted
and every drop 0 blood that has been
shed for liberty has been shed in vain.
Thousands upon thousands of our
best and bravest men have died for
principle and many times the living
thru ignorance or neglect have placed
the keeping of those blood bought
principles in the hands or unprfnci-
pied mon for keeping.
Honest men, country loving men,
God fearing men. men who love the
right and hate wrong constitute a
majority of all political parties and if
they were all politicians and faithful
ly attended to their political duties by
exercising their right Of selection in
the nomination of candidates, it
would not matter much what political
party controlled the government;
honesty in legislation and justice in
administration would prevail.
Corruption never raised its hideous
head in town. municipal, county, state.
or national affairs but what it was the
direct result of the ignorance of the.
individual voter of his political obli-t
cations or his neglect in their per-
Torrance.
Minneapolis glories in the convic-.
ton and sentence of the corruption
lists who smirched the fair name OF
that fair city. Her record would
have been much brighter if she never
had any corruptionists in public
positions to convict and sentence.
st. Louis takes credit for Kidding.
herself of official boodleism and she.
is entitled to credit, but it would have
been more creditable if she had never
had any boodlers to get rid of
It was good thing to clear the
Post Office Department of bride
tabers who debauched the govern
ment service for private profit. It
would have been better if bride
takers and defaulters had not been
permitted t enter the service in the
first place.
" Corruption would not have existed
in Minneapolis, boodleism in St.
Louis or bride taking in the Post
Office Department, if proper men had
been selected for public position; if
an UNI American, I'm republican and