The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-10-19
ARE YOU A PATRIOT!

August c. Keller, at one time a res
ident of OrOville, but now serving in
the regular army as a member of Co.
c. and stationed at Fort Mills, Corre-
gidor, Philippine Islands, sends in
the letter printed below, written by a
comrade in the same company, with a
request that it be published. In his
letter of transmission Mr.. Keller says:
81 still think of Oroville a great deal,
and l think, if l get out of the war
alive, l will go back there"
1t is characteristic of the American peo-
pie to boast of our patriotism, individu-
nation justifies that claim of national
patriotism; but how many of US, In this
modern day, will stand the test and in
the face of national crisis will uphold
the creed of our forefatherS, and will,
to those to whom we, as an American
people may claim with pride?
l am a soldier. A subordinate of the
ranks of the United States army. l have
no intention of becoming insubordnate
through this message However, it is of
the army that | shall speak. l have been
given the painful opportunity of observ-
ing the relative position of the soldier,
In the eye of the public For a period of
three years 1 have been daily justified
could call mystelf a martyr-to look up
n
tempt; instead of having been afflicted
with the contempt of others. Perhaps I
should even be justified in claiming that
l am incensed against the public. but l
am not am in sympathy with them.
1t is without reserve the general opn-
ion of the public that the men who make
up the army. are of one class. That is
unjust. 1t is true / have met men in the
army whom I would not invite to dinner
in my home, and I have met those whom
In all probability would reconsider before
extending like invitation to me even
though they were keeping batch. l might
also hesitate to accept the invitation. But
that has no vital importance or bearing
upon the matter which have i'm mind to
discuss Not all of the men of the army
are cut threats. yeggmen. hoboes or even
chicken thieves. 1t is true, very few of us
sit up all night to recite passages from
our prayer books. In all my experience l
have never seen soldier who showed
symptoms of sprouting wings, or who was
even angelically inclined--some are light
enough in their heads to fly if they were
given the proper ballast. that condition
however, is not confined wholly to the en-
listed men. However, despite public or
private sentiment, there are good men in
the army, men who really do credit to
themselves and to thei rcountry. Men who
are capable of holding their heads high
in the army or In the outer world. Those
are the men who look upon our general.
the eyes of scorn. And do you know why?
Consider! Every man who holds the title
of n soldier, either enlisted or an official
was once civilian. Either a natural or
prospective citizen. and they We're inmates
of some station of life. Every American
citizen may choose for himself a career.
1t may be said that there are several
among our ranks who are not here simply
because our pocket books could not keep
step with our appetites, nor to avoid
civil prosecution Then why should able
disapproval of the public eye by joining
our. ranks in the capacity of soldiers?
will answer for more than seventy per
cent t., Of the men who grace the uniform
thirty per cent are those who disgrace the
uniform
Should a tree be condemned because
there is a decayed branch in its foliage?
Especially when that tree is a national
pride? Rather the tree needs treatment.
How many of us are really willing to rem
der treatment?
When our national guard boys went
down to the border. our Americans We're
aroused to a sentiment that was akin to
patriotism. There was also sympathy
sympathy of the public. They won the
sympathy and hearty respect of the reg
ular army, And our boys cheered the
public for their interest Even then there
for three years or more, some dying in
the interests OF our country and for the
honor honor Of the flag, Those won the sym,
their immediate friends. The men are not
prejudiced against the people who have
done them the injustice of holding them
in contempt, but every true soldier re-
sents the slur cast upon the flag by t.
Indifference of the open scorn toward the
men in the uniform.
And now in the face of a national cri-
sis. have waited with eager anticipation,
my nerves pitched to the key of SEE, and
however diabolical 1t may sound, almost
welcomed Mr. Wilson's proclamation of
war.
For one thing. in the existence of nat
iOnal rights and pride it was inevitable
Another point of equal interest to me is it
offered an equal right to every son and
daughter of America, to prove that the
national spirit of honor and heroism has
not degenerated since the days of our no
BILE ancestory. 1t was because of this op-
portunity that l could smile in reminis-
cence of heated arguments to the effect
that the American people We're ungrateful
and lacking in patriotism.
l waited in eager anticipation. devour-
ing each bit of news cabled from the
United States. Then when the conscrip-
ton bill was introduced my spirits went
SO low that 1t affected my stomach I
was physically and mentally sick And
to think that such conditions could exist
In our America-whose history has filed
my blood with the same pride and patriot