Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-02-22


lance from the angels OF heaven. The
writings and orations that would put
a 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
. 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
our national conscience as Pixies Peak
10 firmly fixed in the soil Of Colorado.
10 not beyond tho cavil nAcomplaint
Of those who study the foundations OF
our institutions.
But Of ono thing We are persuaded,
and that Is that the virtues Of our
country over-balance its faults.
There are more angels than devils
among US.
Tho devils are making the most
aoiss. but tho angels are doing the
most work. The man who believes
that righteousness Is losing its grip
upon this nation Is woefully mis-.
taken man. I heard a speaker the
cher 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 to best.
One Of the chief roots OF our patrioa,
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
7s has kept US here.
Stormy Atlantic, mild Pacific. sleep
hg lakes, waving forests, tree-crowd.
Cd mountains. gold mine and silver
mine, storms out Of whose tempest.
driven hearts have auttered the white.
teathered birds Of peace, fiery bap-
usms through whose flames have
erept 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 upoE our eyes,
when the song of the reapers comes
ap to us, when we hear the. hum
Of industry thrilling along the ground.
when we see the cleaning rivers
eurving and winding like silver
threads through vast gardens, what
account Of ourselves shall we give to
ourselves II 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
~?
They were fighting for the future,
Tor 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 Is
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 to
make the nation. But the nation will
help to make those children. 81
That little dimpled cheek will not
allow you to take OF your uniform for
I single day. Y
You must build his homo. You
must tight for his inheritance. You
must put your life Into the moving and
SEARCHING forces Of righteousness that
afs trying to win victories for him.
The next generation viii live In the
eouAtry which this generation Ii max.
~ Sor 81 And each one Of 10 u helm
- r. laaks & N q = are natioa.''