The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-04

In all the institutions in America. for
there are some unamerican. unchIistian
anu itlDeldI, even some ~tNrannicai, inStl-
tutluns that have sprung up in America.
which are more nearly satanic than god
like, and all along the way some evils
have beset the pathway Of American civil
ization.
Civic unrighteousress is one of the in
situations In America that is distirctively
unamerican. 1t is no secret to the world
that America has not yet learned TO gov
erp her great centeTS of population. and
he lesson VIII need TO be learned Very
likely at the expensive cost of terrible eX-
nerienceS. before the maiady can be cured
business and professional men must take
a vigorous hand in matters of govern
ment and not leave II to professional
QemasogCes. Government must be mas
tered III the interests OF the home. The
school and the personal character OF
youth. instead of III the interest of the
saloon. the gambling den and the selling
of every phase OF honor for private gain.
Good CitlzeEs should never rest easy I'M
I'll the humblest citizen is guaranteed not
merely in theory. but in fact, the right
10 vote his convictions without molesta-
ton or prejudice, ever IL he must be
gcarded to the polls by Government
troops.
1t may be one of our perils is a too
liberal ballot. 1t is certain that the far
reaching act of casting the ballot of an
American freeman cannot he rightly done
and without peril by either the grossly
lgEoIant or the coarsely immoral. II Is
true that no man who denies God as a
supreme being can exercise the rights of
an American citizen justly. for what Il
traVesty OF honestly and sincerity for Al
atheist to take a solemn oath in the name
of a God in whom he does not believe?
He must be either insincere in his pro
LESSONS or in his oath, and nc man open
~ and shaInelessly insincere is a safe Cili-
zen. And ii Is very likely Iue that man!
exercise the right OF franchise who are
not in sympathy with our American in
stitCtions. as declared in the Constitution
These are not all foreign-horn by aHA
means. II is not a question Of where men
were born, but what are their convictions.
The oasis of worthy CITIZENSHIP cam.
be determined alone on where men wcr,
American soil. SOM who We're born her.
are less safe than some who have beer
here but a short time. Sympathy with
American institutions IL a condition that
should be demanded of every citizen who
exercises the right of franchise. Then ]
suppose it Is unauestionably true thai
our ballot is too liberal, In that we permit
tawbreakers 30 he lawmakers. which ,
a shame to any people. and IS certain to
tend toward the innocent suffering and thu
guilty going free. But elevate the ballot.
then preserve it sacred In its rights.
When The hag is attacked by another
nation. then | am for my country's flag
first and all the time until 1t triumphs. ]
would rot he worthy the glorieS o:
American citizenship otherwise. But. as
american freemen. we need not swallow
the wrongs which have projected them
selves into our body polite or into the
lawiess customs of our people. Instead of
adopting the motto, My country right or
wrong let US adopt the more patriotic
ore. My country. When wrong We Will
set it right"