The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-07
PATRIOTISM NOT ALL IN JOINING
 ARMED FORCES
There Is Much Patriotism In Doing the Right Work at
 Home Aiding Government

For the first time since our coun- try has been at war it is now perfect ly proper to voice an idea that while always strictly reasonable might have if uttered at a previous time been mis- understood, seized upon by some as pretext for lessened support of war measures, or even twisted so as to be used as an argument that would tend to give heart to the enemy"
 Whatever minor differences of opin- ion there may have been in the past or may be now, real patriotism and ] practical application of reason and common sence has until now present. ed one great question to every 100 per cent citizen, that of whether he could or should enter the active military or naval service of his country Pure patriotism has said to every man yes" Reason and common sense Remember the government has de- creed the same thing) has said that certain conditions would not only jus tify but actually make it the part of good citizenship to remain in home service and the selective draft has been conducted strictly along this line. Both have agreed in the effort to do nothing that might by any possibility distract attention from the war"
 As this combination of patriotism, reason and common sense has devel- oped it has become more and more evident that while from a certain standpoint nothing will quite equal the beauty of that patriotism that puts d man into the army or navy of his country, there is wisdom in the pa triotism that keeps him out, provided and be sure to remember this, pro vided his patriotism at home is of the | right kind"
 Indications of what that kind is are l of course self-evident. Some of then
 certainly are as follows:
 It means to think and act at home with just the same idea of service a ! impelled the sailor or soldier to ac | ton.
 To accept our sustenance and liveli l hood with even less demand for extra 1 than the sailor or soldier does. His | fault finding does not hurt-he ma. 1 fight better for the spirit his scold 1 ing evidences. Our fault finding vii
 harm, we certainly can not fully serv' i at home unless we learn to live witt
 a smile in our hearts as we'll as on ou l lips.
 It means to use our supplies of en | ergy, money and brains as the soldie
 and sailor uses his pep ammunition l and head, which means that as the. i do as ordered by their officers s'
 should we do as requested by our gov ernment AS he receives his ammu milton be used against the enemy, s'
 should we consider our money to b. for government use. AS he learn the art of war at the front so shoult
 we learn the art at home.
 It means to be instantly, constant,
 and completely loyal and this means
 to sacrifice our own opinions, right
 and life, liberty, if need be, to tn
 struggle as 1t for the moment devel ops leaving such lack of wisdom, in
 justice or unnecessary danger to If | and home as may seem to exist for la
 ter adjustment entirely
 In time of war at least true pa
 triotism says sthat a soldier at tn
 front must not refuse to obey his of
 ficers even though he may know ther
 to be wrong. Remember Balaklav
 as an example.
 Neither. in time of war at least, doe
 true patriotism countenance' reluct
 ance to submit to government at hom' , A soldier who refuses or fails t } obey before the enemy is shot as - traitor Those who refuse or vii = fully fail at home are traitors an Q for such no adequate punishment ca = be devised.
 . A soldier or sailor who because ( t exhaustion in the line of duty . rightfully entitled to a period of re: e may be and is deprived of that rig1 Q whenever occasion requires by an ol " der back to work ot action. n When so ordered, do they refuse . No, they jump at the chance, if ha q the reports are true.
 o The citizens at home ought to
 ashamed, certainly he evidences
 woeful lack of true patriotism if ar
 when he allows any fancied "right
 to interfere with a constant servic ], uninterrupted production and positi'
 help in the activity he finds himse V, in.
 T As for life, it has been truly sa U that "all the worlds a stage, me U and women merely players" but if o1 J. fighters can and do go into actit 'L knowing that suffering and death III bound to sweep them from the stag surely, oh surely, those at hon L ought as sensible men and women,
 say nothing of patriots, to be glad g. stay in action at home even thoue 'h 1t means the deprivation of tho N things that have become part of r T. life.
 Id Few if any will dispute one le these statements Most who agr ce will do so because they subscribe le them from the bottom of the
 hearts. But out of all those here
 Bridgeport who agree to them, the
 are too many who from their actio ea evidence that while they agree wi D the ideas as applied to the world W.
 they do not see that the same patriC of ism and reasoning which makes the ol- statements the truth that they a in when applied to international affa h. should impel them to apply them ch national and local ones.
 w At this time, when the governme w. has for a while at least said: "Y d.. citizens whom we shall want for ms army and navy cannot enter serv a. unless called by us," it is proper res call definite attention to one duty Il en while always existing has. as beft
 stated, been one that for some ii
 past ought not to have been too mu
 agitated, namely that of voting..