Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-23
LACK PATRIOTISM
Grover Cleveland Deplorss
 Tendency of the Day.
WARNS US AGAINST DEGENERATION
Holidays Given Up to Feasting and Social Plcasures While Real sig-
 ntAcancc Is Lost on Our

CHICAGO, Feb. 23. . Ex-Presidept
 Grover Cleveland, at the Washington's
 birthday celebration of the Union
 League club here deplored the appar- ent lack of patriotic enthusiasm of
 Americans on the great holidays of
 the year and sounded warning lest
 the country suffer through the terpi- tude of the people.
 T am confident" said Mir. Cleve-
 land, "that I voice your convictions
 when say that no play of ingenuity and no amount of special pleading can frame an absolutely creditable excuse for our remissness in appropriate holi- day observance.
 "The commemmoration of the day on which American independence was born has been allowed to lose much of its significance as reminder of provi- dential favor and the infiexible pa triotism of the father of the republic and has nearly degenerated to reyel of senseless noise and dangerous ex- plosion, leaving in it's train far more of mishap and accident than lessons of good citizenship or pride of coun- try.
 "The observance of Thanksgiving day Is kept alive through its annual designation by federal and state au- thority. But 1t is worth our while to inquire whether its original meaning, as day of united praise and grati- tude to God for the blessings bestowed upon us as people and as individuals. is not smothered in feasting and social indulgence.
 "We, in common with Christian na- tions everywhere, celebrate Christmas, but how much less as day of com memorating the birth of the Redeem CT of mankind than as day of hilari- ty and the interchange of gifts.
 ''The self examination invited by the commemoration of Washington's birth day will be incomplete and superficial if we are not thereby forced to the confession that there are signs of the times which indicate weakness and relaxation of our held upon saving vir- tues.
 If we find that the wickedness of destructive agitators and the selfish deprayity of demagogues have stirred up discontent and strife where there should be peace and harmony and have arrayed against each other in- terests which should dwell together in hearty cooperation; if we find that the old standards of sturdy, uncompromis- ing American honesty have become so corroded and weakened by sordid atmosphere that our people are hardly startled by crimes in high places and shameful betrayal of trust every where; if we find a sadly prevalent among us to turn from the highway of honorable industry into shorter crossroads leading to irrespon- sible and worthless ease; if we find that widespread wastefulness and ex- have dlscredited the whole sale frugality which was once the pride of Americanism, We should re- call Washington's admonition that har- mony, industry and frugality are 'es- sential pillars of public felicity and forthwith endeavOr to change our 
 q protest that I have not spoken in ! spirit of pessimism. The land we live in is safe as long as we are duti- fully careful of the land that lives in us. We should see to it that cupidity and selflshness do not bind our con sciences or dull our efforts for our welfare"