The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-02

I
with the notes of
the same, from which the following
extracts are made:
Il have no sympathy with that al
legel brand of patriotism which con-
sists in bOastlng, self laudation and
gloriication, with our national great
ness as a subject If we as a people
combine all of the splendid virtues
which are enumerated by thousands
of orators a proper degree of modesty
should suggest that such encomiums
be reserved to those citizens of foreign
birth and allegiance who have been
thus impressed by study of our tran
scendent 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 its young with war
songs, battle cries. recitals and pic
lures of bloody encounters and the he
70 worship Of victorious generals. The
savages of six continents know no 9TH
er kind of patriotism. That Indian is
esteemed the greater who on any pub
lie occasion is most reSourceful In Ian
guage extolling his personal prowess
as warrior and the greatness of his
tribe. He chants the tale of unnum-
6ered victories, Is silent concerning I'M
numbered defeats.
Our civilized orators usually do not
find 1t necessary to sound their per
sonal praises. When a speaker de-
Clares that he represents the peerless
city Of the principal county OF the
greatest state Of the grandest nation
on the face of the globe, the magma
ton 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.
1t was that spurious patriotism that
Johnson had in mind when he declar-
ed that patriotism Is the last refuge
of the scOundrel'
patriotism Is that love of ones
country which impels a man or a wo-
man to make personal sacrifices in its
behalf
patriotism is not blind worship
of any form of government or of any
institution or set of institutions When
you hear man declaiming about the
sacrednesS of Institutions or the sa-
credness of anything except sacred
things, keep one eye on him and the
other on your pOcketbOok. A thousand
governments and ton thousand insti-
buttons have been weighed in the bal
ance of justice and found wanting.
Patriots have established them and
patriots have overthrOwn them. No
man is gifted enough to codify patriot
ism. Patriotism is justice aroused to
action.
"A patriot is man who is anxious
to give more to his country than he
possibly can receive from it. He is one
who, without hope of gain or thought
of fame, lays his services or his life
itself on the altar of his country.
"a patriot is one who is honest with
the country of his birth and to the
community in which he lives A pa
triot is social gentleman. He is chiv-
alrous, honorable and considerable as
citizen
Il wish to make absolutely clear my
conception of what constitutes patriot
ism. One may take advantage Of his
neighbor and yet be Il patriot, but the
moment he attempts TO take advantage
of the community, the state or the ma
ton he is no longer a patriot. He
may be in debt to individuals, but he
cannot be remiss in his obligations to
his country and remain a patriot. A
consistent clubman is exact in con-
forming to the rules and ethics of his
organization, Jealous church men,
Der needs no prompting to do his full
duty, and a true patriot esteems his
country as a grander club and his citi-
Zenship as a social religion.
when a burglar enters and despoils
house he inhicts a financial injury on
IN individual; when a man withholds
fair dues or service to a club or church
he works an injury to a limited num-
Der of persons, but when he puts his
to pay into the same every dollar due
from him, he has committed a crime
against all of the living and has done
an injury to coming generations.
True citizenship demands from the
individual exact justice to the COM
munity of which he is a member, but
patriotism transcends citizenship. The
patriot is a lover; his country is his
mistress.
Patriotism is the flame which serves
as beacon light to citizenship. 1t is
on this day, more than on all others,
that we should see if the lamps are
trimmed and burning.
Il have given no stern definition of
citizenship and have not idealized pa
triotism. Who are the patriots of
America today, and what are they do
ing for their country? Do any dangers
menace, or have we reached a period
50 perfect that patriotism can slumberf