Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-02-07

country, his state and his city, against
private bands of marauders who are try
to capture the machinery of government
for their own selfish ends he must fight
to free the 100000 slaves of child la
Dor; he must fight for the abolition OF
poverty, and for justice to the WORKING
classes. He must strive to bring ii
about that our government shall be for
the good of all the governed, and not
tor a favored class. The weapons the
American patriot needs to take up today
are his conscience, his voice, and his bal
lot
Obstacles to Patriotism.
There are two tendencies that are IN
lmical to the spread of an intelligent
patriotism in the United States today.
Strangely enough these tendencies are
almost the exact opposites of each other.
They are a selfish individualism and
shallow cosmopolitanism. The individ
ualist sees only his own selfish interests:
the cosmopolitan sees only the interests
of humanity. Both lose sight of the
interests of the nation.
Selfish Individualism.
The individualist, who care only for his
babies, his books, and his buildings, is
of course utterly blind. If he were not,
he would see that what is for the good
of the nation is for his own good. Good
lOduS, SUOu SCuOOlS, luc tGStI1cIlOu u
vice, the election to public office of men
who could not be bought; all these things
would immensely benefit his family and
enhance the value of his property. The
well-b being of the individual depends on
the well-being of the whole body polite,
just as truly as good digestion
or clear thinking depends on the health
of the whole body. One member of the
body cannot suffer without the whole
body suffering with it.
Shallow Cosnopolitanism.
COsmopolitanism is not nearly so great
an obstacle to patriotism, because it in
ftuences only a few of our citizens in
comparison with the vast number in
tiuenced by Il selfish individualism. Yet
there are some among us who regard
all men as their brothers, whether they
be brown or black or yellow or white;
and they therefore are just as eager
for the welfare of the Chinese or the
Filipino or the Kaffir as of the American
All nationalities look alike to the cosmo-
politan. He is fighting for the cause Of
humanity. He is filled with enthusiasm
for the spread of human liberty. He
would have fought for the freeing of
the southern slaves and he would as
willingly fight for the freeing of the
Russian people from tyranny and injus-
tice. This is Il noble spirit, and not
to be mentioned in the same breath with
a selfish individualism.
Yet it must be admitted that the cos
mOpolitan is blind, when he fails to rec
ognize the primary claims his own coun-
try should have upon his loyalty and de-
votion. A higher wisdom ought to teach
him that, as self-deV elopment is neces-
Sary before a man can render great
service to his fellows, so the develop
ment of the nation is necessary before
it can be an influence for good in the
world. However much we may love hui
manity, we should rally to the support
of all movements that make for our
cOuntry's highest good, in so far as those
movements 10 not interfere with the
good of other men and other nations.
Christianity Combined with Patriotism.
The true Christian would make the
best patriot. He would unite a love
for humanity with devotion to his own
country. He knows that the true love
of self is not inconsistent with love of
ones family; that love of family is not
inconsistent with love of country; and
that love of country is not inconsistent
with love for humanity. He knows that
only by trying to keep his own country
up to high ideals, can he hasten the
time
"When the war drum beats no longer,
And the battle-tlag is furled;
In the Parliament of man,
The Federation of the world
-Selden p Delaney, in the Evening
Wisconsin Milwaukee