Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-10
Where Every True Georgian
Should Stand.

On the principle that every substance has
shadow, and everything genuine countertelt'
ora NAV say that there are divers and sundry
.orts Of uatriotism. There is the patriotism OF
the self-seeker which is crafty, that OF the OPP
portunist which pliable, that OF the partisal
which is factious, that of the pacifist which is
strange that OF the munition magnate which Is
unctuous and that of the politician which Is ali
these To TOP off the list, II might be added that
there is yelIowish, demagogic sort OF patriotism
which Dr. Samuel Johnson defined in his great
Iexieography as the lat refuge of a scoundrel"
7, Is not to be wondered that in a nation Of
mora than one hundred million people or that II
a State of nearly three millions, We find scattered
here and there specimens of these odd and spur
ious kinds Of country-love. Mature hath framed
strange fellows in her time" and doubtless for
good reasons of her own. Let US not despair OF
the republic or get unduly 'het up" merely be-
cause of individual errancies and stupidities Let
us see to it as citizens and as newspapers and as
public servants THAI our patriotism is neither
that OF the opportunist the demagogue nor
that of the intriguing partisan, concerned
with petty factionaI politics than with the ma
tion's broad welIbeing. By purging our own mo-
tives to make OF their sincerity, we shall be
better qualified to speak out in bold correction
of others misreadings.
For straightforward, wholehearted, inspiriting
patriotism commend to the resolutions passed
nv a virtually unanimous vote by the General AS
sembIy of Georgia, indorsing President Wilson's
administration on the war issues and pledging
him this commonwealth's unreserved support in
all his efforts to uphold American honor and to
press the war to a victorious end. Those resolu-
tons which passed the Senate unanimously and
which passed the House with only five dissenting
votes out OF total OF one hundred and eighteen,
ring true in every syllable to the heart of Georgas
rank and file. After reciting the fact that 'in
obedience TO the dictates Of humanity and for the
protection and preservation OF the rights and lives
of American citizens" the national Congress de-
clared the existence of a state of between the
United States and the German government, the
resolutions affirm that:
The General Assembly OF Georgia, in
regular session assembled. being the imme-
date representative body of the people OF
Georgia does hereby indorse and declare its
unqualified faith and confidence in our presi-
dent the Honorable Woodrow Wilson, and
the policies, principles and objects heretofore
announced by him, and hereby conveys to the
President the assurance that Georgia stands
ready and anxious, sustained by her tradi-
tional patriotism. to aid TO the limit Of her
resources and manhood and womanhood in
the protection and preservation of the rights,
honor and dignity OF nation. Be It
further
Resolved. That the several representa-
tives OF this state in national congress
urgently requested to give the president
and his administration that patriotic and
unstinted support demanded by the needs and
circumstances Of the hour"
This is no merely perfunctory Endorsement. 1t is
a pledge and an outpouring of peoples loyalty
not merely the loyalty of lips but of hearts and
of deeds The men behind those resolutions con-
stitute the most broadly representative body in
the State and are most intimately informed con-
corning public sentiment in their various coun-
ties and districts. Speaking for the farmers. the
workfngmen and the business men of Georgia,
they urgently request representatives in the
national Congress "to give the President and his
administration that patriotic and unstinted sup
port demanded by the needs and circumstances OF
the hour"
There are two particularly impressive things
about this request: is that it comes from a
disinterested and non-factionaI quarter the other
/. its patriotic common sense. We may be sure
that when virtually the entire membership of this
composite body of public representatives goes on
record as urging support for the Administration
measures now pending in Congress, hear the
voice of true patriotism. the voice of the people
themselves-not that of political intriguers or
factions
OF chief import however, is the prac-
ticaI wisdom in the Legislatures declaration.
Whatever opinions may have held con-
corning the world war, the all important fact now
is that our country is in this and that we
win this resign ourselves TO harsh and
terrible future in which shall have to fight, rot
or the other side of the Atlantic but on this side.
end fight to save fields and firesides
> from the hideous clutch of Prussian militarism.
Whatever theories once may have entertained.
it behooves who love liberty and who
prize the security of these American shores to
face the grim fact that We are at war with the