The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-12-01
For Self or for the Public.


Rev. J. A. Clyde continued last Sun
day evening his talks on public ques-
tions and the large attendance signified
that people are becoming more and more
interested and aroused by such addresses.
The fourth of the series will be given at
some date to be announced later. The
music was much appreciated, also, by
the congregation, the Acme quartette
and Miss Annie Osburn giving special
numbers A synopsis of the sermon
follows:
Among the nations prominent In
history, the American is unique In It's
portrayal. Others are represented
as pointing with pride Coward the past
and looking with fear to their future.
But the American Is alone In this,
that he is faced with hope and conf
dence toward the future. Tomorrow
is Enthusiastically his and he claims 1t.
We believe we are coming into the
best days OF our experience. Today Is
important because 1t ushers In q new
and noble period Of national life. We
will solve the problems confronting US
and master the difficulties before us
and tie career of tomorrow will be
higher and better because Of the pa
triotism of today. Because we have
great problems OF public and social
copcsrn we are appealing to your pa
triotism. We are appealing to your
love OF country, exps citing you to pass
down with new nobility, the govern
ment that you maintain.
The generations following US de-
mand Of US good government and right
service in public place. All the ap.
peals Of the future, all the concerns Of
today, all the duties and responsible
ties OF public progress demand that We
be patriots. Against the spirit of pa.
triotism we find working the spirit Of
party and the party is not apt to be
patriotic. Its tendency is toward
power.
The party asks success for itself, not
success for the state. Once the party
stood for ideals, represented theory
OF public service. But 1t carries In its
system the poison that operates
against the state. Continued long In
power 1t becomes corrupt. This is
true Of any party. 1t flourishes In
success, 1t does not ask for service, 1t
wants power. Your partisan is apt to
lose his patriotism aud this because
hts loyalty Is won for lesser things.
The mass Of men fall to discern when
the party issseekirg public service or
when 1t aims at.the public problems.
The mass OF men adhere to party with.
out respect to the great thing-the
party 'S,men. In all that pertains to
life, social orlpolitical, man and men
are the great things.
Personality means more than party
representation. You put men into
office, not party. Ths most careful
scrutiny should pass on the men who
seek tbs public place. Because he is
republican, The is not sure to be honest;
because tie isldemocrat, he is not sure
to bs true. But If he Is a man loving
the state and seeking The public well
fare, he will be both true and honest.
Ones loyalty TO the state, the city,
the town is sure to be understood by
the kind Of men be will help to public
place. We have, without shame, put
men In Office that we would not have
In our homes or keepabout our store or
otfics. II Is our shame that we have
not been as circumSpect about the
city 's'oflicials as we would be about
our own employees. We are looking at
public affairs through tho eyes OF
party loyalty and not the eyes OF pa.
triotic C ]uc:rn. The time is sure to
come when this condition will be
changed. We have grave problems to
solve and new progress to make. Par.
tisanship cannot help US, it narrows
the visionlsnd distorts the view. Pa.
triotism can help Us, 1t aids the eye
and strengthens the besrt.
Owosso asks you to work for her
and not for party; seek her high
est good, not the patty's power. The
request is fair, is right, none can pass
1T of Tbs need OF today is that the
great body OF citizens will advance to
the city's welfare with loyalty to COM
monwealth as their chieiest beast and
concern. The IDEAL state is rot one
rent ia Schisms or divided by party
zeal, but rather wealth fos.
tered by the love Of all, the loyalty OF
all, as was said OF ancient Rome:
"Where none were for the party,
But all were for the state,'
All the great problems Of national
progress and honor are solved, at last,
by the people that make the govern
ment. at your hands tns naIIO- :
character an career IL sealed aud
stamped But what are you? Psrtl-
san or patriot? The rub is there, with
your loyalty aud spirit and we are
wa'sing for the people to act and live
as patriots, aud nothing short of that.
Can't look we'll, eat well or feel well
with impure blood feeding your BODY.