Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-28

events. but 1t is w. I ~
in those years that
our nation has lived its true life and II Is
upon services OF inconspicuous patriotism |
rendered during such years that nobillg |
OF national existence has to depend. And |
yet II Is I'm those intervals that we hear !
less about patriotism and think less about
H. and have least consciousness OF coun- !
try and OF our beautiful but obligatory
relations to It,
This was only a few days ago expressed
by an active and observant member OF
our community when he said, I'VE are
suffering from a lack OF Americanlsm.
1t was not his idea that We should be, !
oblivious of the world at large 1t Is well
enough for US 20 remember once In
while that we belong to the planetary
system; although mindfulness of that fact
is not likely to operate as a particularly
strenuous impulse TO the discharge OF
everyday duty.
But II is not so with the matter OF
being possessed of an American con-
sciousness. That consciousness should lie
deep down among the fundamentals OF
our constant experience. II is the only
way In which national life can be con-
served. expanded and exalted. And It is
not by dwelling on what we can wiring
out OF the country in the way of blessing
upon ourselves that that conservation
and exaltation can be achieved, but by
devout concentration OF our thought
upon the worldwide relations In which
/ we stand and the worldwide opportunity
that therefore lies open to us.
We are not going to keep our country
unless our thought about It IL kept toned
he 80 inar N which
the country is appointed. 1t is only by
that means that we can exclude small
I politics; and such politics are our bane.
Large results are not achievable by small
methods Our local civic duties will be
neither wisely nor faithfully dischar gcd
except as the pressure of our felt rela-
! lions to country filters down through into
! our specific relations to state and TO city,
and thus communicates to those narrower
relations a national dignity.
: II am not SO fundamentally an Amer
lean as to realize my Americanism In
casting my vote at the local polls, shall
be very likely not TO cast any vote at
the local polls. II / do not appreciate
the fact that the character of the can
didate for whom l vote has q bearing
/ upon the character and destiny OF the
entire country in which my civic lot n
cast, shall probably be more or less
/ careless as to what may be the character
| of that candidate, good or bad.
In this, as I'm all matters, what we con-
slider small obligations will be neglected
I till there is brought in upon them some
! larger consideration that lifts them to a
condition OF ennoblement. What seems
! small must be realized to be. large or It
I will be left undone. While political par
J ties may subserve national ends. loyalty
| to party is far more likely to deaden the
sense OF relation and obligation to the
| nation than 1t is to promote It.
De Tocqueville, in his Democracy in
: America" touched close upon that point
when he wrote, Parties are strongly in
! terested in gaining an election not so
much with view to the triumph of their
principles as to show the strength OF the
( supporters of those principles" II Is not
to be expected of a pronounced partisan
that he will be distinctively a patriot.
His affections and ambitions will as a
rule be so bound up In his Organization
as to be unaffected by the consideration
that the value of such organization does
not reside in itself. but in the amount
which 1t is able to contribute to the ma
tional veal.
When hear II said OF man that he is
an intense republican or an intense dem
ocrat / at once conclude that It is not
probable that he is an intense American.
II there were among our citizens an eye
single to the public good official posi-
lions OF large sponsibility would be
filled with men of larger moral and per-
sonal caliber than the case at present.
An author we'll versed in American his
A., 20
seventy years ago, said american
statesmen OF the present day are inferior
to those who stood at the head OF at
fairs fifty years ago" What was true
when that was written is true now. In
the early days OF the republic the urgency
OF the situation caused citizens TO realize
that only the best men were equal 10
the stress imposed by critical conditions
so that men Of mean capacity were less
disposed to coyet such positions and the
people at large were too concerned to
allow them TO occupy them.
Statesmen who could do the heavy work
Of the newly born nation felt the appeal
therein addressed 10 them. and consider
; ations OF personal ambition and conve-
nience were swept out Of their thought
by the more momentous argument Of con-
{ ditions that were crucial A sense OF d.
rect personal relation 20 country dom
} mated them and focused their powers Of
thought and passion upon efforts OF pur,
: self-sacrifcing patriotism.
! II was the passion OF Americanism thai
brought this country 20 its splendid birth
l and nothing less fine and less devoted
= than the single-eyed patriotism that frs
gave life TO our country will suffice e
hold II back from deterioration and 4
} push It forward to a career OF increased
dignity and strength.
4 II remains 10 consider this matter in ia
lrelatlons 20 the church and the synagogue