Imperial Valley press., 1917-04-28
DECLARES PATRIOTISM
IS NOT ENOUGH GIVEN
PatriOtism-Or Greater?

nifty, l realize that patriotism is not
enough. l must be free from hate
and bitterness"
The years of the great European
conflict have brought us many events,
many lessons to learn and ponder, but
none greater than the sublime mes
sage Of Edith Cavell, the martyred
nurse.
She was fragile English woman
whose whole life had been one of de-
votion to the relief Of the suffering
of humanity-a woman for years at
the head of training school for
nurses, which gave, rot to Belgium
ard France only, but to Germany as
well, in those early war days, many
faithful women whose healing hands
soothed the wounded and comforted
the dying. In the progress of these
ADMINISTRATION, when she cared alike
for the Belgians, the English, the
lGermans and the French, there came
tt: her knowledge those matters per-
tanning to the fortunes of her beloved
England. What more natural than
that she pass on these secrets to her
government?
Accused of this by the imperial gov
ernment of Germany, it is reported
she made no denial of the charge
frankly admitting all, and adding her
confession as to certain other facts
This very openness is said to have
initiated against her in the evtreme
sentence pronounced-that Of execu-
tion as spy.
At 2 o'clock on an October morn
ing the steady hand dropped, the eye
Ids closed, the brave heart ceased its
constant beating, and the loyal SOU
of Edith Cavell went out or its jour
ney into the Great Beyond to continu.
as thousands of others near her had
done, the path of this, "the greatest
adventure life can Offer"
It is not necessarily essent!l; to
us whether Edith Cavell had acted
wisely or not. 1t is not for us to
decide whether the method Of pun
ishment used was according to the
magnitude of the crime Or whether it
be merely a part of TIE fortunes OF
all such as follow Mars, the great
war god. One gigantic fact remains
rndisputed-she was about to pay the
extreme penalty for that which she
Rad done for her country. and III the
last fleeting moments, guided by the
knowledge of the past, rndaunted by
the events of the pres s?nt and illumi-
mated by the dawning OF the first
day in a world not yet come, she sent
to all humanity her inspired words
worthy, indeed, to be an enduring
monument to the brave soul Ling
and dying serenly.
Does your imagination sketch for
YOU the events of that life up to the
fatal August /, 1914? TO you see
the days of suspense ana then days
of activity and tender ministry! DO
you understand the service she
planned to render, the miscarriage OF
her plans, the discovery and arrest!
All this the result of what we today
are calling patriotism.
Does your imaginati IN lead you on
to picture the days and nights in the
cold, narrow cell; the many hours 81
questioning to force her to betray the
utmost of that within hcr knowledge!
Can you see the courtroom and feel
the suspense during the two days OF
her trial? Can you understand the
thousand times she weighed IL the
balance of her mind the wisdom and
the worth of this patriotic act oil
hers? Can you understand, too, the
many, many times when along among
her So called enemies she was sub
iected to that which in smaller soul
could but have borne the fruit OF ha-
tired and bitterness. Not so, Edith Ca
veil.
"Patriotism is not enough she says
and her thoughts drift on. ~ aid my
utmost, but my greatest is not sum
cient. perceive, beyond. the spirit
of Him who said, Father, forgive
them; they know not what they do
and in this knowledge insult be free
from hate and bitterness"
Brave spirit, we care not whether
in diplomacy you be with US or against
us. in your sublime Illumination we