The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-02-25
LACK PATRIOTISM
Grover Cleveland Deplores
Tendency Of the Day.
WARNS US AGAINST DEGENERATION
Holidays Given Up 10 rensting and
Social Pleasures While Real Sig
nihcance Ii Lost ON Our
peODle

CHICAGO, Feb. %. - Ex.President
Grover Cleveland, at the Washlngton'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.
II am confident said Mr.. Cleve-
land, that voice your convictions
when say that no play OF ingenuity
and no amount Of special pleading can
frame nm absolutely creditable excuse
for our rcmissness In appropriate holl-
day observance.
THE commemmontlon OF the day
on which American independence was
born has been allowed 10 lose much OF
It's Significance as n reminder of provi-
dental favor and the inhcxible pa
trlotlsm OF the father OF the republic
and has nearly dcgenerated TO revel
OF senseless noise and dangerous ex-
plosion. leaving In It's train far more
or mishap and accident than lessons
OF good citizenship or pride OF coun.
try.
'"fhe observance OF Thanksgiving
day Is kept alive through It's annual
designation by federal and state au-
thorIty. But Il Is worth our while to
inquire whether It's original meaning.
rs day OF united praise and graft
tude 20 God for the blessings bestowed
upon us as people and ms individuals.
Is not smothered In feastlng and social
indulgence.
I'VE, In common with Christian ma
tons everywhere. celebrate Christmas,
but how much less rs n day Of COM
memoratlng the birth Of the Redeem
er OF mankind than ms a day Of hilari-
~ and the interchange Of gifts.
"Thc self examination invited by the
commemoratlon OF washlngton's birth.
day VIII he incomplete and superficial
II we are not thereby forced 10 the
confession that there are signs Of the
times which indicate a weakness and
relaxation OF our hold upon saving vir-
tues.
III we find that the wlckedness OF
destructive agliators and the selfish
depravity Of dcmagogues have stirred
mp discomfort and strife where there
should be peace and harmony and
have arrayed against each other In
icrcsts which should dwell together in
hearty co-operation: II we find that the
old standards Of sturdy, uncompromls-
ing American honesty have become
20 corroded and weakened by a sordid
atmosphere that our people are hardly
startled by crimes In high places and
shameful betrayal % trust every
where: II we find n sadly prevalent
disposition among us a. turn from the
highway Of honorable industry Into
shorter crossroads leading a. lrrespon-
slhlc and worthless ease; II we Ind
that widespread wastcfulncss and ex.
trayagance have dlscrcdiicd the whole.
sale frugnllty which was once the
PRIZE 81 Amerlcanlsm. We should re.
call Washington's admonlilon that har.
mony. industry and frugallty are 'es-
scnliai pillars % public felicity and
forthwith cndeavor 60 change our
course.
n protest that have not spoken In
n spirit of pesslmlsm. The land we
live IN II safe NJ long NJ we are dutl.
fully careful Of the land that lives In
~. We should see 10 II that cupldity
and sclnshness do not bind our con.
sciences or dull our efforts for our
country's welfare"