The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-03-04
LESSONS In PATRIOTISM.

The HOLIDAYS which in America are 50
generally celebrated as to be truly natlonai
are only two in number, and are thus
brought out in sharper relief for all people
for the memories they recall, the deeds
thew commemorate, the lessons they en-
force.
Independence Day commentaries the
birth of the greatest Republic in the world
history and the founding OF system ana
the realization on gigantic scale ana uh-
der happv auspices of a world dream which
had occupied the minds of men since the
dawn of history-real liberty regulated by
law. Washington's Birthday celebrates
the extraordinary virtues and magnlhcent
services which character of the pure type
of the patriot rendered in accomplishing
the founding of the nation.
The two holidays are ever to be held In
grateful remembrance. The magnificent
labor of founding the Republic was COM
pleted by wise and self-sacrificing men who
are among the conspicuous benefactors OF
the human race; the ideal type OF national
hero is embodied in the acts and character
of Washington.
Gladstone said that of the whole sum of
human life ''no small part is that which
consists of a mans relations to his country
and his feelings concerning it, The test
of mans patriotism is not so much his
private feelings toward his country as his
acts, words and efforts continuously ap-
piled to support Of the nation. AS nine
tenths Of all the disease to which the hu-
man race is due to preventable causes, such
as neglect of the principles and practice
of right and wholesome living. so nearly
all the ills which afflict the body polite in
America to-day are directly and umistak-
ably caused by the sectional and dishonest
rule of the Republican party, due to the
lack of active patriotism in the present
generation in the Northern States, who
absolutely and unscrupulously control the
government of the United States.
We do not mean to say that the people
who are in the ruling majority are in their
feelings or at heart are wholly unpatriotic.
A call to arms against an alien foe would
throw into the field on the instant, from
North and South, the most tremendous
army Of strenuous fighters that the world
has ever witnessed. The time, however,
does not call for this kind of patriotism it
demands the patriotism which is too much
in allegiance, especially in the dominant
North, the active and energetic desire and
determination to rid the country of its vile
politics, of its low political ideals, of its
scurvy politicians in high places, of trafick-
ing dishonesty, of the apathy, craft and
greed which sap the virtues by a slow
process and implant in the mind Of young
and old the mischievous notion that our
aim should be to get something from our
country, and not to serve her, protect her
and make her more beautiful and pure.
The most deadly philosophy is that
widely prevalent that a man is saying a
praiseworthy thing when he declares that
he will not touch politics; and the most
unworthy thought which an American can
have is the notion that he is a good citizen
when he perceives the evils, wrongs and
dangers and refuses to make an effort to
remove and to remedy them. This coun-
try-every free CONTINGENCIES a new birth
in patriotism; it needs re-awakening; il
needs perennially the teaching of the
solemn truth that each and every man in
every generation owes to the country just
as great an effort as that given freely and
oararly NV tho horooo Of,
''We mutually pledge to each other our
lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor .
says the Declaration of Independence
The American who imagines that he is not
bound by that pledge as strongly as oul
forefathers were when they subscribed tc
this announcement to the world has mis-
taken idea of true citizenship. Every
American became bound by that pledge
the instant he was born. He accepts the
blessings and benefits which are the result
of the mighty patriotism of those who have
gone before, and his duty to do his part fol
the present and future generations is self
evident ''Our country, and by the bless.
ing of God may that country become q
vast and splendid monument of peace and
liberty and may we the citizens of this
age prove worthy descendants of the pas,
generations in rescuing the rights of the
people from the infamous rule of political
free-booters and greedy trusts.