The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-04-01
PATRIOTISM.

Miss Mabelle Miller.
Grafton Which Won First Prize at
the County Contest at Bremen
Last Evening.
Patriotism and warfare are closely
related in the minds of the American
people; SO closely related that pat
raotrSm is seldom thought of except
as concomitant of war. We can
not carry on war succe ssfully with
out patriotism, but patriotism can be
had or should exist in time of peace.
Patriotism IS generally defined as:
love of country; devotion to. well
fare of ones country; virtues OF a
patriot. Many think of it as love to
fight for ones country, Willingness
20 die on the battlefield. This IS one
phase OF patriotism.
By what standard should true pat
riotism be measured? Shall it be
by the desire or Willingness one has
to fight and die for his country OF
by the desire he has TO hive and labor
for his country? True patriotism
should discourage the carrying on OF
war War is sometimes to be lament
ed and by all means if possible to be
avoided. But we say in many cases
war has been inevitable. Grant that
TO have been true in the past Let
us suppose that in the trouble that
existed between the North and the
South in the COS that all the enthu-
siasm, energy, money and lde had
been expended in an effort to settle
the dispute by peaceable means. OF
course it would be impossible TO lose
SO many lives in settling the dispute
peaceably, but let us suppose that as
many men were willing to lay down
their lives in order that the dispute
might be- settled amicably and peace
be retained. Who is ready 10 predict
what the results might have been?
Surely it is not impossible to have a
patriotism free from the scent of gun
powder
The fighting spirit OF the oncom5ng
generation is still kindled too much
IN his study of the past He should
be made to feel the solemnity and
awfulness OF those deadly engage
ments. He should be lead 10 look
back upon them as things to be re-
GREETED Surely all hearts should be
for such murderous encounter as
the Civil war to have taken place be-
tween brothers on the soil of a civ
ilized country Some one was wrong.
Both thought they were right. Now
that the dispute IS over, let all hearts
beat as one and all energy be united
in the great labor OF causing poster
ity TO view it with a sympathetic and
charitable ey.. | do not wish to be
misunderstood | would have these
deeds commemora;ed, but in such
way that the old wound may heal and
that the desire OF inflicting a new
wound may be suppressed. Sad in
deed that there was need OF the long
painful struggle between mother and
child in the Revolutionary war. Let
US be thankful that right prevailed in
the spirit OF the odds that seemed to
be against it. Let tbs emphasize less
the bloody struggle All honor to
those who gave their lives for our
freedom May they ever remain
fresh in the minds of a grateful pos
ter9ty Let us cease TO glory in the
deadly conflict that gave birth to our
freedom.
How many in mind have picture
of the monument that commentaries
the conflict that took place at Con
cord Bridge? Are you emphaticall
reminded of the conflict itself? There
stands the enraged farmer with that
look of defiance and the rifle in
readiness. The implements and feel
ings OF the, deadly ARRAY pictured in
stone and viewed by posterity. Shall
these battlehelds be left unmarked?
No, by no means should they be left
unmarked. But let them be marked
by monuments less uggestive OF the
murderous aspect. Erect monuments
that wir remove the feeling of en-
nifty and place in its stead the feel
ing OF charity for all, malice toward
none.
These conflicts have all taken place
tense excitement and bitter feeling.
Especially has this been true in the
case OF the individual What is it that
prompts men in the heat of the con-
flict to rush in where death is all that
remains? Is it patriotism or is i,
frenzy fed by the hatred he has for
rhe enemy? Is it the welfare of the
country he has at heart or is the
desire to deal "A deadly blow TO the
enemy? Truest patriotism is not, as
commonly supposed, always to be
found in the heat of battle. Certainly
those men who barred their breasts to
the bullets, swords, and spears OF the
adversary in days gone by were pat
riotic in their time, but the twentieth
century demands a patriotism of
peace.
Let us have a patriotism in peace;
a patriotism that see,,s to preserve
our country from horrible catastro-
phies A patriotism that seeks the
brotherhood of mankind; a patriot
ism that expends all of its energy in
casting out little differences and in
seeking to make all nations harmon
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