The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-05-26

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ture time. We like to see men who
stand for something-for high princi-
pies Of right and justice. These men
not only stood for their principles and.
voted for their principles, but they
went forth on the field of awful car
mage amid cleaning bayonets and
clashing steel, amid the din and roar
of conflict and supported those prin-
ciples by force of arms that we might
have country The debt of liberty
We owe them we can never fully pay,
but We can emulate their example by
standing firmly for what we believe
to be right. Liberty, my friends, is
something that can not be won for all
tine, and those who would continue
free must be ever ready to strike a
blow in their own behalf. A real live
growing nation can never be entirely
free from dangers but each generation
must face it's own dangers and solve
its own problems. If the American
republic ever furnishes a theme for a
Gibbon-which l pray God it never
may-it will be because this genera
ton, or some succeeding generation,
had not the patriotism, the virtue, and
the moral courage to solve the prob
lens and face the difficulties of their
own time.
We have many dangers with which
to contend. The seductive promises
OF agitatOrs who offer to substitute
state-help for self-help are undernin-
ing the sturdy independence of our
younger citizens, more and more OF
whom are joining the ranks of the
voluntary idle. Why should young
man plan for an honest, independent
living by hard work When he is as
sured that the state will provide for
all his wants later? But be not de-
ceived, my friends, that program will
never be put into operation
Another danger that we should
guard against is the growing disre-
spect for law and order among GER
tain classes of our citizens. Evidence
OF this is seen in the crime of lynch
ing, confined not alone to the south
ern states, for 5000 persons have been
lynched in l6 years in 40 states, only
five states being free from this crime
Think of the fact that under the shad-
oW of the constitution, human beings
have been put to death without trial
or proof Of guilt,-not only have they
been put to death but many have been
tortured, burned at the stake in the
presence of large masses of citizens,
with all the hideOus, inhuman bar
PARTIES, that only the most cruel, un-
civilized Indian tribes have pract1cea.
Let us take this blot from our flag.
Anarchists, or the inhuman practices
OF anarchists, should never be toler-
ated in our fair land.
The license of speech and print in
this country amounts to what George
w. Gable calls "our national vanity of
liberty The ISLANDERS and distem-
pered misjudgments of a WantOn yell
low press, that grossly abuses and
outrageously misrepresents public Of
ficials, causes multitudes of people to
look upon men in public life as out
casts and criminals We Americans
need to cultivate more reverence and
less arrogance in the look from below
upward to our political superiors
There are other dangers that ought
to be mentioned in this connection
but time will not permit of their dis
cussion.
| believe our most insidious dangers
are within the body polite and not
without 1t. We have no need to fear
The envious rivals of the old world,
but we do need to fear the corruption
OF money, which like canker worm
is gnawing at the heart of society,
breeding sloth, Incidence, luxudious
immortality, the loss of manliness and
moral courage. We do need to fear
lest we sink to meaner ideals, to
cOarser ways of life, to more vulgar
types OF literature and art, to more
open craving after wealth, and a more
lasolent assertion of pride and force.
Yet while these dangers are indeed
very real, am firmly of the convic-
ton that the people, whose progeni-
tors enacted Magma Charta, the Great
Declaration, and the Emancipation
PROCLAMATION, have the moral force
| and virtue to overcome them
Thus he spoke, and great cheer
vi approval Went up, for their i'm
aElnatlons and consciences were
touched. Then, after covering with
flowers the graves of the veterans of
the Civil war and Spanish war, who
lie buried in the cemeteries of that
Face, they all went to their homes,
having leceived lesson in patriotism
which none will soon forget
The Proper Use Of Commemorative
Occasions.
The public holidays that are pro-
vidcd Tor in the laws of the state
should be kept in the spirit of the
law. | believe that in no case was it
the intention that school children
should be turned adrift on the streets
with no appropriate exercises to COM
memorate the particular days. There
is no better opportunity for inspiring
patriotism in the hearts of the young
than the sober, earnest contemplation
for an hour or more, of the life and
services OF some man or woman who
has done something for humanity and
our country. On Washington's BIRTH
day, every public school in the land
should devote some time to the con,
slderation of that one American char
acter (which has stood the test of
time and has grown brighter with the
years."
1t is one of the characteristic of
our age that the great statesman,
poet, artist, musician, philanthropist,
and even educator is entitled to rank
as high as the warrior and soldier-a
distinction which had never been &C
corded in the history of the world,
until the days of the Great Republic.
What an awakening there would be,
and what an elevated patriotism would
be inspired, if on the birthdays of each
of the following, one hour year
could be devoted to an earnest con-
sideration of their services to the
world; Lincoln the emancipatOr;