The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-07-04
THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA
The Nerve That Never Relaxes. the Eye That Never
Benches the Thought That Never Wanders"
By III Trwism


for the treasures nature offers.
Nations conquer nations and kings
fall and rise and fall again, and
always, everywhere, we see men
moved by the spirit that made
Alexander the Great cry for more
worlds to conquer.
As we walk with time down the
path of the ages we see this spirit
working among men and influenc-
ing them. A Columbus discovers
a New World; and Cortes, Pi-
zarro, a De Soto, Magellan, a.
thousand dreaming, eager, restless
ones set out to live in it's vast
spaces and subdue them. A Ra-
leigh, Smith, Puritans, Quakers,
idealist, adventures, pioneers, call
them what you will, set their faces
toward the westing sun and lay the
foundation of a greater empire
than the world has known. Greater
in wealth; greater in purpose; and
greater in the growing spirit of
ideals and perfection that was ever
a part of man.
Here is the genealogy of this
Nation that today pauses to remem-
ber and celebrate the greatest act
ever born of human mind and
nurtured by human blood and en-
ergy and sacrifice. For, when the
Declaration of Independence was
a finished, absolute fact and so
presented to the world there came
to dwell upon this earth what is
today the most powerful force men
have ever known-the Spirit of
America.
That is what this Day-July
Fourth-symbolizes. We are wont
to read the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and crate upon the Lib
erty that sprung into full.grown,
active being on this day of our
Nations birth. That is not the
thing we should remember first or
wholly consider. What we need
to keep ever in mind is the Spirit
that bred and bore and nurtured
and guided this Liberty we cele-
brate and enjoy.
And this Spirit was not born on
July Fourth, 1776; nor when the
Puritan stepped on that stern and
rock-bound COAST; nor when Co.
lumbus unfurled the standard of
Isabella and Fedinand and gave to
the world a new continent. That
Spirit was born when the first man
turned away from his life in cave
or forest tree and fashioned with
his own hands a dwelling place, a
weapon or dress that had been con-
ceived in his mind. Then was born
the Spirit in man that made the act
of July Fourth, 1776, possibility
and assured it permanency.
Today that Spirit, that was but
a tiny spark in the first ages of
man, through feeding upon daring,
adventure, purpose and ideals
stands out as the Spirit of America
for the world to lean upon and ac-
cept as mentor, guide and savior.
Nor will the world find their faith
and trust held in vain. This is no
ephemeral, will-o'- -the-wisp illusion
men follow and seek to lay hold on.
It is the Spirit God, Himself,
planted in the breast of man
reached near to a perfect unity
with Him. And as there is no
death or failure in Him there can
be none in the Spirit of America
that today is the hope of the
world.
The world shall not hope in
vain, because this Spirit is of the
world. A child of all the ages and
lands of the earth it's vision is not
confined to one small corner of
that earth. Of the earth! Why, it
looks out upon the universe and its
one thought and aim is service to
men. How can it fail when back