The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1910-03-10
PAGE SIXTEEN

schools, and to the noble women of
our country, whether teachers or
mothers, an humble patriot wishes to
make an appeal which, if its aims can
be realized, will mean much for the
future welfare of our great republic.
So great has been the opportunity
for the rapid accumulation of wealth
within the past twenty-five years, and
so vast has been the power of men in
high official station over the condi-
ton leading to these opportunities,
that seeds of mental disease and of
moral depravity have taken such
strong hold upon many of the most
trusted that men have sold them
selves, honor and soul for gold; and
to such an extent has this disease
spread that nothing less than a mira
Gle, or some strong, united effort, will
stop it.
The miracle is not likely to happen.
Any combination of men who would
correct these great evils must be
stronger than either or both of the
ruling political parties, which organi-
zation will hardly soon be effected,
and, if so, it must be bound together
in true patriotism Or it also would
soon be corrupted.
Surveying all of these deplorable
conditions as they stand out before
us, there seems to be but one final
solution-as the sprout is twined SO
will the tree grow. 1t seems to fall
to the teachers in our public schools,
and to the noble women and moth
ers of our land, to SO train the grow
ing generation that this disease, this
stigma of graft, which is fastened
upon the American people, can last
at most only until the youth of to-
day becomes the man of tomorrow
and assumes the reins of govern
ment.
Does it seem a long way off? How
short a time it will be we hardly
realize Who can see real hope in
any other direction? The Spartan
mothers taught their sons that pa
triotism and devotion to country,
which make the whole world take
notice. and if the women Of today
will follow in their footsteps in this
direction, what a glory will be
theirs!
No great national calamity, or ma
tional disgrace, can come to a people
whose youth are truly periodically
trained.
lie LII OuCy vi CIIO CCdNACA 10 W
teach his pupils with thoroughness
the English language in all the
branches common in our public
schools, then in the leisure hours of
the later day teach them national
pride, to love their country and to
honor their flag; tell them of charity
so they will understand: not so much
as represented in gifts of gold, as in
gifts of the heart; that it is the sum
shine of noble, living soul. Pa
triotism and charity are much akin,
both mean self-sacrifce for the COM
mon good.
Tell them of the noble, patriotic
~ lives of the men who established our
republic, and then, when they are
a little farther advanced, you may
tell them that the greatest mercy
God has granted to those noble
souls was that they could not live to
stand face to face and be Inundated
and crushed by looking into the
eyes of the lost and degenerate half
who now fill their places.
Tell them that the men and wo-
men who live truly patriotic lives,
with that broad charity in their
hearts which will surely shine upon
the human family around them
represents the highest and noblest
type of citizenship known to the
civilized world.