The Newtown bee., 1906-06-08

greatest thing in the wOrld-tO govern
ITSELF" 1t is we'll to spend a dav like
this in serious thought, thought on
the origin and history of our country,
on it's vicissitudes and triumphs. its
dangers, our duties as citizens. Only
in this way, shall we be melted to live
up to the high standard of American
citizenship. II we forget what our
rights and privileges cost, there is
danger that we undervalue them.
Sometime ago one of our leading
Grafton day should be at half mast, or
should float from the masthead. Its
answer was that it should float from
the masthead. The flag at half mast
is symbol of sadness, Of sorrow. But
this is not day of gloom. 1t is true
we commemorate the dead, but the
dead whose death was glorious. The
Christian church las always celebrat-
ed with JOY the days on Which
it's martyrs died, because by
their death they gloritied God and
the church, and their death
was the beginning of happiness and
life-the life eternal. Next to God is
country and next to religion is patrio-
tism. 1t has been said: "No praise
goes beyond the deserts of patriotism.
1t is sublime in it's heroic. oblation on
a field Of BATTLE" "Oh glorious is he
who for his country falls, exclaims
the Trojan warrier, Hector. So in a
measure Memorial day is a day of glad
ness. We rejoice that the heroic dead
had the virtue and power to give
themselves for their country. They
have won imperishable glory and we
need not sorrow for them. We re-
jOice that we as Americans share their
renown.
But we should regret to see the day
Of mere pastimes and sports. Let our
JOY on the Fourth of July be uncon-
fined, for it is the birthday of freedom
let US rejoice on Washington and Lin
coins birthdays, that such men were
born into the world. But on -Memori-
al day let us be thoughtful and take to
heart the lessons it brings us. Let US
learn to hate injustice, SelishnesS and
Indifference to the prosperity and good
name of our country. In other words
let US learn to be just, unselfish and
patriotic. The
A great wrong was being perpetrated
on a whole race. Human beings were
held in bondage worse than death
They were treated as chattels,
bought and sold like beasts of bur
den. Ground under the heels of
their tyrannical masters, ringing be-
meath the lash great was the injustice
under which they suffered.
But these soldiers of 81, living and
dead, righted that wrong and Justice
prevailed. We cannot be blind to the
fact that much injustice exists to-day.
While human nature is what it Is,
there will always be cunning, schem.
ing, INSCRIPTIONS men, who will try
to pervert or evade the laws OF their
country for their own aggrandizement,
and to the detriment of their fellow
citizens. The remedy for this is a
healthy moral public sentiment. If
the majority are honest, eminently
just, these evils cannot last. The
American people are often easy-going,
long-suffering. Most of us are shocked
at the revelations, SO frequently made,
of dishonesty and intidelity in public
and private trusts. 1t often happens
that men too readily cOndOne these
sins. have seen men smile at the
mention Of ''graft," and heard them
were we in their place" 1t ought not
be so. Honest and Just ourselves, we
ought not tolerate it in others. Our
voices should ever be raised and our
influence used that honesty may pre-
vail. Honest and just ourselves, we
should never be afraid to smite with
the strong right arm of Righteousness
and probity every wrong no matter
who may be it's victim-be he rich OF
poor, white or black, Jew or Gentle
How unselfish we're those oldiers
They gave all that men hold dear
They abandoned their work, theil
business. They sundered the dearest
ties of blood. Husbands left theil
wives, lovers their SweetheartS, sons
their parents; and they did this fol
love Of country. What generosity
What unselfiShneSS! Is it too much tC
expect that We initiate them in some
degree? We are not called upon tC
make the sacrifices they did. But is it
asking too much that we be public
spirited? That we take an interest in
the election Of honest and true men to
office? That we do what we can fol-
the enforcement of laws that make for
the good of all the people? We must
not live for ourselves individually,
seeking our private interests only, but
as members of an organized society we
should seek the public good. Am
my brothers. keeper? Every Ameri.
can is the keeper of his country's laws,
and of his country'S good name. Fin
ally, the