Willmar tribune., 1903-07-08

instances where men and women have
been put to death by their fellow-citi-
zens against all law, without trial or
jury, and often without any but cir
cumstantial evidence to convict them.
1t Is no doubt true that, in some in
stances, these deeds of lawlessness
have been melted by the failure of the
courts to give the law q just and
speedy application, and in such cases
the courts certainly share the respon.
sibility OF the crime, but there are
thousands in this land today who,
every year, are manifesting a most
unpatriotic spirit, and who are strik-
ing q blow at the very heart of the
nation by disregarding the laws by
which the people of this land should
be governed.
Let US show our patriotism by rev.
erenciug the law of the land. Even
though it be an unwise one let US be pa
triotic enough to keep it's requirements
until 1t can be altered or repealed in a
lawful way.
The man who disobeys the law and
who sets aside its requirements is
lending a hand to the cause of an
archy and striking a blow at the
cause of freedom and good govern
ment.
Another essential element of true
patriotism is regard for the ballot
box. 1t is the ballot box that dis
tioguishes this country from all other
countries that are not free republics
1t is privilege that makes the citizen
king. In giving advice to the CON-
ing voter about his ballot q writer
recently said:
"That ballot will be one OF the most
sacred things that you ever held in
your hand. l doubt that if even the
Bible or the communion cup is more
sacred. It is the recognition of your
manhood, your equality with any
other man, your right to voice in the
government of the country. 1t cost
a 1000 years of bloody struggle. 1t is
the safeguard Of your liberty and
your social rights, and not yours only
but of all your fellow citizens, there
fore use it thoughtfully and honestly
and remember that to sell your own
vote is only less base than to buy an.
other mans"
A mans patriotism can generally
be measured by the way he uses his
elective franchise. he who uses it to
put bad men in into Office, or he who
fails to use it, when by doing so, he
might help put good men in, is cer-
tainly lacking in unselfsh patriotism.
And so many OF our citizens are fail
ing to exercise their responsibilities
of citizenship of going to the prim-
aries and the polls, that in the opinion
of some this is no longer government
for the people and by the people, but
for the few and by the few.
The better class of citizens frequent.
ly permit the evil class to carry an
election because they fail to make the
slight sacrifice which would be re-
quired to assert their choice at the
primaries or at the polling booth, A
rain storm will keep "good citizens" "
at home but it is noticeable fact that
it seldom keeps the saloon man and
the demagogue and the political wire
puller at home.
Men, our forefathers braved the shot
and shell of battle to purchase for US
this privilege, and shall We be 80 lack
ing in patriotism as not to be willing
to brave a rain storm to exercise the
privilege purchased for US at so dear
q price?
II
A patriot in time past was the man
who suffered and sacrificed in order to
gain for us the privileges of our free
citizenship, and patriot today is the
man who is willing to make some sac
rifice to fulfill the responsibilities
which these privileges have incurred.
The man who will not vote when he
can, or the man who casts his vote ior
bad candidate because his name is
on his party ticket, is not patriot.
A patriot will show his patriotism
rather than his partissnship at the
ballot box.
Another element of true patriotism
is. q regard for our country's institu-
tiors. Ihaye not time to discuss them
at length this morning, or even to
enumerate them all. There are three,
however, which must always be recog.
nized as inseparably bound UP in our
country's welfare, viz: the home, the
school and the church.
Should tho time ever come when the
homes of our nation should cease to
be cherished and protected, when the
purity Of the family life, should be
AAaErn vAd natri0kiam would die out In