Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-02-26
THE CALL OF THE FATHER
The Establishing of a Government
Upon the Principle of Liberty Was
No Small Undertaking-Its History
Reads Like Romance-The Human
Heart Is Naturally Aristocratic--
Democracy is an Attainment.
By w. t. Williams.

Undertaking. IL proves CnaC our
fathers were men of vision, able to
look into the unknown future with
confidence, at the same time burning
with patriotism, which is love in the
last analysis. Never we're any body
of men imbued with nobler purpose,
and never did any body of men cling
to their purpose more unswervingly.
Their eyes were fixed on one object.
They knew what they wanted, and be-
lieving as they did in its rightfulness,
they went out to obtain it, ready to
sacrifice all they had, even themselves.
This was their equipment, and no
event in the annals of the human kind
affords better illustration Of the
power of confidence, self-abnegation
and love. This is so true that it can
not be gainsaid, and we, in this age
are witnesses of their good works.
They builded firmly, as men knowing
the desire of the ages, with every
thing to eyes of flesh against them.
The task they undertook to perform
was not inviting. Before we can see
the sanity Of such a move, we must
be able TO look deeply into their souls.
BUt they were undaunted, and we en-
JOY the fruits of their labors.
"God Of our Fathers, Whose almighty
hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry
band
OF shining worlds in splendor thro the
skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne
arise"
The history of their doings reads
today like romance, and more than
once we have wondered at their dar-
ing, fearlessness, adventure. 1t is q
fairy tale, and yet it is solid narrative
very real indeed. 1t pierces one to
the quick, going underneath the hard
crust Of human nature, leaving US
better and more satisfied with our
lot. This is worth while, and it proves
that their hardships were not endured
for nought. For anything that is
strong enough to bear unlimited fruit
speaks Of abundant life. It was a
venture to them; it is q pleasure to
US. They incurred heavy and untold
risks; we are only asked to walk in
the paths they cut. They subjected
only expected to be faithful.
"Thy love divine hath led us in the
past,
In this free land by Thee our lot i,
cast;
Be Thou our Ruler, guardian, guide
and stay,
Thy word our law, Thy paths oul
chosen way"
What we have inherited is a great
prize It Is true. We are justified il
saying that it is beyond all compare
Our liberty Is the grandest that ha.
come into the life Of any people. Il
stands out in the history of the ma.
to the demands of all men. But
while this cannot be denied, yet
there Is no blessing so easily lost al
liberty. It Is So valuable that man,
are always prepared to snatch it from
us. Continuous vigilance must b,
kept in order to maintain it. Ambi
tion Is still in the world, and even tn,
words of Abraham Lincoln are no
strong enough to hinder ambitiou
men from encroaching upon the right
Of their neighbors. There is Away
= danger near by, and to become en-
tangled along this line is not difficult
because the manners in which w,
might be robbed Of our precious an,
fair heritage are more in number thai
we can count.
"From wars alarms, from deadly pes
thence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure de
fence;
Thy true religion in our hearts in
crease,
Thy bounteOus goodness nourish us il
peace"
In our present state democracy
.AN J. L..
ages of cruelty and suffering. Tn
exceedingly bitter. II did not come b
us at once. It grew by degrees.
was first the blade and then the ear
and then the full corn in the eal
This means that IL has gone throug
all the processes of growth. It ha
been In weakness. Many reverses
has overcome. The storms of violenc
at times seemed too furious for 1t I
Withstand them. Its enemies hav
. been innumerable, and they are nc
all dead In these days. To secur
democracy was an arduos task, an
each generation has contributed il
portion towards II. Other than me
Of stout and courageous hearts coul
never do so much. To maintain d.
mocracy Is also an arduos task, an
that because 1t is so easy for US oul
selves TO be undemocratic. II we hay
money we must have political an
social preferment. We must rule {
else we will know the reason why.
we have little education it is so n;
tural for us to think that we have
right to lead, whether permission
given to us or not. The easiest of a
things is for men and women to |
aristocratic, and the most difficult
all things is for men and women TO |
democratic, or the lovers of the pc
vi pie. Aristocracy Is natural-dem
cracy an attainment.
"Refresh Thy people on their toi
some way,
Lead us from night to never-endir
day;
Fill ali our lives with love and gra
divine,
And glory, laud and praise be ev
Thine
Then, our task is to paaintain o
liberty. We have been called upon
\ keep IL undefled, and the first fC
tress that must be overthrown is o
own heart. The trouble lies within
bounds of our own bosom. There
no foe whom we need to fear sa
our own pride. There is no enemy
the horizon strong enough to steal o
4 liberty save the one which has be
mentioned, our own pride. We mi
be humble and meek ourselves, prs
ticing the golden rule day by di
honoring all people in their vario
positions, and so long as we will {
our way clear to do this, we need I
fear anything else. Our democra
will be kept uninjured so far as a
foreign power is concerned. We m
laugh serenely at the blasts of
outward storms. We are safe fir,
without. The danger Is nearer hor
We care not for the armies that 81
round us; we are more afraid of
armies that are within US.
"If drunk with sight Of power,
loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee