The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-20
Patriotism

we have gone a long way In making
the proper environment for patriotism
But with a healthy and intelligent
people there is yet much to be over
come before the peace and happiness
of a contented system Of society may
be obtained.
The plea for the great fight for a
strong nation does not mean that we
agree with Sutche that only the fittest
should survive, at the loss OF the
weak. The strong and capable must
give the necessary assistance that will
make the weak strong so that the ma
ton stands as a whole, Arm and I'M
Invisible. The helping hand may be
extended along any Of the lines OF true
philanthropy for raising the depend.
ent to a place OF independence and
eliminating the pauper to the careful
supervision OF detectives and delin-
uuents. Not to allow the standards Of
our country to be lower and our vital
ity Slapped by the open sore OF pauper-
ism, insanity, idiocy and crime. but
to cure It by concentrated effort and
perfected methods.
When we have freed ourselves Of
these evils we have done away with
a great part Of the discomfort which
is the greatest breeder OF anarchy
and positive death to patriotism. This
discomfort takes rise to q great ex-
tent. among the laboring classes IN
the great struggle between capital
and labor where the efforts OF the
working man have brought him no
gain while the capitalist enjoys profits
and men come to believe that the
social scale is set wrong and all the
powers arc against him. Here is the
biggest problem Of our times. The
reformers and the public spirited men
are putting their greatest efforts to
the task Of making a short cut across
that long and weary road which we
must travel in order to attain that
state OF society where we have real
and not merely nominal freedom to
pursue the best; society in which
men shall work together for common
purposes and in which wholesome CO.
operation shall take place largely
through government, but through a
government which has become less
repressive and has developed its pro-
tective side Where great national I'M
dertakings will be the property Of the
nation and managed by the nation
through agents who appreciate the
glory Of true public service. A so.
ciety in which education, art and lit
erat,lre shall be fostered by the ma
ton and in which federal government
commonwealth, local community and
individual citizens shall heartily CO.
operate for the advancement Of civil
cation. Success will then be the re-
suit OF genuine merit, great fortunes
will be discouraged. measures de-
signed to increase the number enjoy
ing competence and the reduction
to its lowest terms of the chance ele'
ment in the economic sphere will be
promoted. A society that re-adjusts
taxation for social purposes and will
by taxation Of requests and inheri'
tances and unearned incomes, more
nearly equalize opportunities.
Please do not mistake me to berad
vocating Socialism, for am not. II
this social democracy individuals are
thought Of as working not merely II
the service Of the government, bu
outside Of the government in materia
production, owning land and capital
yet with the individual element duly
subordinated to the social and with
out the power to coerce communities
and reduce men by the thousands t
degrading dependence. Perhaps this
may be thought theoretical and i'm
possible at this day. but II we are tc
attain success along the line Of main.
tanning a nation Of contented people
a nation whose soul is alive, we mus
place our ideals high il we intend tc
make q mark toward the attainment
Of a people who are not living for
self alone but for their country. their
people-a society of men loving truth
continually progressing in goodness
and surrounded by an expanding beau
ty of a subjugated nation. When q
contented nation is attained, it is still
left for individual effort to exterminate
the menace Of bad morals before which
patriotism fees. A people without
good morals is incapable Of self gov
eminent. At the base OF the proper
exercise OF suffrage lies unselfinshess
and the spirit Of sacrifice, A corrupt
man is selfish; an appeal to duty finds
no response in his conscience; he Is
incapable Of high mindedness and gen
erous acts which are the elements Of
patriotism. He is ready to sell his
country for money or pleasure. Pat
riotism takes alarm at the spread o.
intemperance, dishonesty, perjury. Fol
the countrys sake it should arm
against those dire evils of all the
country's forces. its legislatures, it,
courts and above all public opinion
Materialism and denial OF living
supreme God annihilate conscience
and break down barriers to sensual
ity. They sow broadcast seeds o
moral death They are fatal to lib
erty and social order.
We have great country. a grea
people with history behind us o
mighty deeds and great heroes bu
in order to keep the flame burning
clear and bright there is great worl
to be done, though as yet we hav'
not the force of the ballot to put be
hind our views. The fields of socia
work are all open and without the as
sistance Of the At there may some de-.
be smoldering and dying OF thi'
great spirit Of the nation, the grea
God given gift Of patriotism.
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