The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-29
GENERAL MILES
ON PATRIOTISM
Letter Which Was to Have Been
Read at Democratic Banquet.
DUTY OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE WORTH
AT THE POLLS.

Washington, March 2S.-Lieutenant
General Nelson a Miles, retired, for
merry -in-chief of the Unit
ed states army sent letter Of regret
10 the Democratic club Of Grand Rap
ids Mich, which was 10 have given
banquet at Grand Rapids Monday
evening. Owing 70 the floods in that
region the banquet was abandoned.
General Miles authorizes the publica-
ZION or the letter, which is as follows;
ashlngton, March %, 1904-AIr.
refer Boran, President Democratic
Cab GTaRd Rapids. Mich:
NY Dear Sir--I regret exceedingly
thar, owing TO a very serious illness in
my family, / find it impossible to be
with you on TIE important occasion
which brings the members Of your club
and distinguished Democrats from diff
Ierent parts of the country together. I
also regret that it is impossible for me
70 meet my gallant comrades in the
state Of Michigan.
Patriotism Of Voters.
Having been invited 10 speak on. the
subject Of Patriotism I should reply
were Il there, shat patriotism comes
nearest the heart of every true citizen
OF our republic. It is especially fitting
10 give it serious consideration at this
time, when we are menaced by serious
portant crisis in our political history
anc the veal or woe of this republic
VIII depend upon the intelligence and
patriotism of the sovereign voters.
Their action during the important event
Of the coming autumn will bless or
seriously embarrass the future of this
country. In fact, the perpetuity OF our
domestic government depends. not upon
the presence of great armies. the VII
of despot or the dictation of any
ruler, but entirely upon the patriotism
Of our citizen.
Patriotism cannot reign within a
selfish heart or a deprayed soul. 1t is
as pure as the light of day. and cannot
be dominated by evil motives. The
patriot can be inspired only by the no
olest Impulses that aotuate the spirit
OF man. he cannot be engaged in an
unholy cause. The leaders or partici-
pants in acts that only result in con-
quest. devastation. pillage and spoila-
ton. are not patriots. Alas too often
under the pretense Of patriotism men
have degraded it in ruthless and cruel
enterprises deserving condemnation
rather than COMMUNICATION.
Patriots of History.
Men have been actllated by motives
OF most selfish ambition or 'merciless
avarice under the plea of advancing
civilization on the other hand we find
instances Of heroic self-sacrinoe
throughout the pages of history. As
far back as the time of the great law
giver who, amid the splendors of an
Egyptian court. preferred to espOuse
the cause Of his own people, even
though they We're in a humble condi-
ton, we find an early example of pa
triotism. Another Is that of the Roman
consul and general who. while in the
hands Of the enemy. was given the
choice between liberty. after the be-
trayaE of his people. or torture and
death. He heroically refused coun-
seled his followers to renew their ef-
fouls Cor the defense of the republic
and submitted himself TO cruel and
ignominOus death.
Patriotism is illustrated in the acts
&c our fathers who. inspired by the love
cf liberty. commended against the then
most powerful nation of the world to
establish our independenCe-that was
an heroic age, when resOlute men in
every section of the sparsely populated
colonies of the Atlantic coast esDouSed
the cause of freedom II brought for
ward from among that self-reliant
sturdy race. the noblest and the brav-
est, the highest and the best represent
tatiVe men of any age or of any cOun-
try Orators, scholars statesmen. sol
dierS. were the controlling spirits
There never has been a time when
both in war and in peace. this country
has not produced as strong class OF
morally. as the men of that age.
Washington as a Patriot.
The highest. noblest and grandesL
of them all was that character who was
not only first in war. but first in peace
The men Of America need not look else
where than To- the Father of their
Country for an eXamplar and true
patriotic character. No more instruc-
tive lesson could be given to the rising
public acts the state papers, the wise
counsels. the remarkable prophesy
and the sage warnings of the patriot
and statesman who cOmprehended the
frailties OF the human heart and the
dangers that would environ the repub-
lie that he and his compatriots had es-
tablished.
He desired to prevent our nation
from running the course that had
hitherto marked the destiny of ma
tons and 10 was his prayer that the
free constitution might be sacredly
maintained and its administration con-
Quoted with wisdom and virtues that
the happiness of the people under the
auspices OF liberty might be made COM
plete,' and that they might have the
glory Of recommending il TO the affec-
ton aud adoption Of every nation that
was as yet q stranger 10 it..
Yet, the nobiest act Of patriotism Of
that great man was when he set the ex-
ample for all time in declining contin-
ued authority. The imperial powers
that were within his grasp did not al
lure him from the path of duty. Hav-
ing rendered his country an incOmpara-
bic service. like Cincinnatus. he was
proud to take his place amid the citi-
zeus of his country as one of them, a
title and position that he regarded as
the highest among mortals.
Duty Of Citizens.
"a renowned English admiral said
at the time Of one of the most critical
historical events: England expects
every man this day 90 do his duty. II
Is equally essential now that every cit
izen Of this republic should do his whole
duty. and 20 discharge that sacred OBJ
legation requires high moral courage
and fortitude.
we have come TO look upon liberty
as one Of the natural elements of our
existence. We give IL as little concern
as If our ancestors were never com
PEELED 10 fight OF die for il, or il there
could be no possibility of ourselves OF
our children being deprived OF its
blessing. SO little do we feel the bur-
dens Of government and 50 benefcent
are our political advantages that we
little comprehend the necessity for
great sacrifices and heroic acts. We
scarcely realize that little more than
a century ago the great mass of the
human family were serfs. slaves or abb