Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-02-21

and the best man who
lives in 1t Is separated by long dis
lance from the angels of heaven. TIE
writings and orations that would put
us beyond criticism explode against
some very hard facts and let out upon
the air great deal of Stiffness. Our
politics are not so absolutely pure that
q seraph's wing could Craze them
without contamination. Our ideals of
greatness and glory are closer to the
ground than they ought to be.
Our reverence for the sacredness Of
law that should be as firmly fixed, in
eur national conscience as Pixies Peak
Is firmly fixed in the soil of Colorado,
Is not beyond the cavil and complaint
Of those who study the foundations of
eur institutions.
But of one thing we are persuaded,
and that is that the virtues of our
country over-balance its faultM
There are more angels than devils
among us.
/ The devils are making the most
aoise, but the angels are doing the
most work. The man who believes
Mat righteousness is losing its grip
upon this nation Is woefully mis-
taken man. l heard a speaker the
other day who proclaimed that we are
falling from bad to worse and from
worse to worst.
We do not believe him.
We believe that we are rising from
good to better, and from better tu best.
One of the chief roots of our patriox.
ism Is gratitude, the realization of an
immense debt to those who battled
about The cradle Of our national ex-
istence and won our freedom and In.
dependence at the points Of their
swords.
Here we are because the men of '76
put us here.
Here we stay because the spirit OF
re has kept us here.
Stormy Atlantic. mild Pacific, sleep.
ing lakes, waving forests, tree-crowd-
ed mountains. gold mine and silver
mine, storms out of whose tempest
driven hearts have futtered the white
teathered birds of peace, fiery ba2.
tisms through whose flames have
crept forth the evangels. gave ever
lasting covenant. When we think Of
these things, when we stand upon the
mount of vision, and the splendor Of
our country breaks upon our eyes,
when the song Of the reapers comes
ND to us, when we hear the hum
OF industry thrilling along the ground,
when we see the cleaning rivers
curving and winding like silver
threads through vast gardens, what
account of ourselves shall we give to
ourselves If we take not the cup Of
praise and thanksgiving in our hands
and pour 1t out to the heroes whose
patience, faith and courage ushered
In the dawn of our splendid prosper
tty!
They were lighting for the future,
for the country that was coming. So
are we fighting for the future-for the
country that is coming. AS we look
into the faces of our little children we
cannot feel that for US the battle ia
ended. We have won country for
ourselves. But we must win country
tor them.
And love or country and love OF
children run together with the ambi
ton to win better country for them
Home and patriotism are linked to
gether. The children will help tt
make the nation. But the nation viii
help to make those children.
That little dimpled cheek will moi
allow you to take off your uniform fol
single day.
You must build his home. Yot
must fight for his inheritance. You
must put your life into the moving ant
marching forces of righteousness tina
IAre trying 10 win victories for him.
The next generation will live in tn,
tcountry which this generation is max
Ing for It. And each one OF US Is help
Tag 10 make It AL Of us are nation