Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-10
THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE
The Spirit of IT is Praised.
Music Reviewers
Criticized
THE SPIRIT OF II

TO the Editor Of the ErcniRo Public Ledgcr:
Sir--A hue and cry has been raised by
some citizens that America is lacking in
patriotic spirit: that the citizens are nom
Chalant and unConcerncd about the great
conflict. Men mournfully lament that the
spirit of '76--that uncOnquerable and un-
qucuchablc Spirits absent: that that
great spirit which has 50 attended US in all
our previous conflicts is lacking.
Let Jnc, sir, as a proud citizen Of the
worlds greatest republic, cndcaNor to re-
ply to those people.
The Spirit Of Columbia has not left US; it
is with rs in all its deep and incxhaustible
force. 1t Is manifest in nearly every citi-
zen Tho mere fact that the emblem Is not
prominently displayed IN mans home
does not necessarily denote absence Of pa
trlotc ardor. Tho mere fact that the COors
are not conspicuouslv fastened on mans
lapel should not be held as "A conviction
against a mans patriotism Many a human
being now walking the streets with red
white and blue literally all over him has
not as much as given cent for Uncle sam
These men hide behind the colors and can
be classed as cheap camounagc,
ON the other hand, many seemingly quiet
and apparently unconcerncd people mani
fest the old Spirit of 20 by actions. They
run to enlistment stations, subscribe for
bonds and cheerfully shoulder the abnor-
NAL burdens which a war brings, !. e. in
creased taxes, economy practice etc
sarily have to show itself in clamor and
vccifcration; it does not have to display
itself in turbulent mien. true patriotic
spirit shows itself by aCtion--the quickness
TO enlist, the subscribing to the Govern
ment's gold certificates, the quiet and de-
tcrmincd self-resignation TO wars abnormal
existing conditions the resoiute stand be-
hind the President. That Is your true pa
triotism, sir
II is true that we find riotous people
gprinklcd among us; people wagging their
tongues necessarily about Il rich mans
war: people lamentng the pitiful incom.
petence Of the American soldiers people
pessimistically predicting the awful fate
that awaits America. But, sir, how many
American citizens will you weed out among
those semitraitorous gossipers? How many?
Indeed very. very few.
Those seditious gossipers for the
greater part aliens who owe allegiance to
other countries. They have not been In our
country long enough to grasp the principles
for which our country stands and tor which
our fathers and forefathers have given their
lives They cannot comprehend the true
Yankee spirit which is so deeply implanted
in the true American.
And pray what nation is there on the
face of this earth of ours which. no matter
how patriotic, has not such injurious
aliens? No country under the sun is en-
tirely free Of this rebelliously disposed and
maliciousy inclined human driftwood.
q
meaning and decide that ! take all aliens
TO be rebelliousy inclined Pray dc not mis-
interpret me. Not all aliens are traitorous
gossipers. I have only tried to convince
that those people that are seditiously drawn
are nearly all aliens: that most of them
cannot grasp America in It's true meaning
However. there is many an unnaturalized
man who is true-true as even any dyed
in-the-wool Yankee.
Yet In spite of many a tratorous for.
eiener. the true Columbia spirit is gradually
arising and acquiring the upper hand You
do not see 1t noisily demonstrated In the
thoroughfare, but you do see it in our ever.
Increasing army and navy; In the tremen.
dous oversubscription of the Liberty Loans
and in our determined stand behind Uncle
sam
We have read in history about the great
snirit OF '76; the future generations will
read and revere the great Spirit of II.
MAURICE DRANOE
philadelphia. December,s. -