The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-06-06

y 40 VS. ~ ACSPI~N " - $3.50 r
to defend 1t against all enemies" E
You see what Mr.. Page has donef
You see why this one out Of the 1900
contributed won the prize? Instead OF
attempting to say something "origin-
al" the author has done something far
more important and permanent. He
has drawn upon the immortal docu-
ments known to all of us, the Declare
ton OF Independence. the Constitution
Of the United States. the federal oath
OF allegiance, WashingtOn's farewell
address, Lincoln's Gettysburg speech.
one of Webster's speeches, Edward
Everett Hale's story, The Man With
out a Country" "The Star-Spangled
Banner" the army and navy regula-
lions, the great seal of the United
States, etc. He has culi9S from each of
them and has made a composite, not OF
mere ~ine-sounding phrases, but OF the
fundamental faith, the sacred belief In
all that is implied by the term "Ameri-
canism." 1t fairly reeks with Ameri.
canism. And yet there In no blatant
spread-eagle jingoism In this calm con-
fession OF faith. II Ii as dignified as IL
IL sincere. It Is a notable literary per-
Torrance, because It is a great patri-
otto expression. And all In 100 words ]
A tour de force.
The author, II Is interesting to note.
10 a descendant of q President OF the
United States. John Tyler. and also OK
a signer Of the Declaration Of Indepen-
dsnce, Garter Braxton. He lives in
Friendship Heights. Maryland, near
Washington. He was born In Fred
erick, Maryland, the birthplace OF
Francis Scott Key, the author of "Ths
.Star-Spangled Banner" and was edu-
Gated In Baltimore. This Ia a curious
coincidence In view of the fact that
Baltimore, the birthplace of III ma
tionai song, offered this patriotic prize.
Ii 10 hardly necessary to d b
these personal facts were not known
until after the awsrd was made.
All the manuscripts were of course
submitted anonymously.
Now, Mr.. Page has done his part
Mr.. Henry 8. Chaplin, Of New York.
who suggested the idea, has done his
part. Mr.. Matthew Page Andrews, who
engineered II. has done his part. The
rest of us must do our part to make
this patriotic effort ~efrectual. With
all due respect to our youthful train
ing many OF US were allowed to grow
up with the idea that "our country
meant little more thar the place where
we happen to live. This mistake must
never be allowed to occur with anothei
generation. One does not think OF
ones family merely as the people with
whom one happens to live! You be
long to your family. your family be
longs to you. And so with your coun'
try. One reason why this nation ha
been so slow to awaken TO Its perl
and It's responsibilities Is, or was, oul
.deplorabie lack Of national conscious
ness. We are now, however, at the
dawn OF a new era. Probably there
Is not a man, woman. or child In the
United States, provided he be in his
right mind, who has not today a diff
fersnt feeling. a stronger reaction tC
the words, my country" than thres
or four years ago.
II was for the furtherance of this
feeling that this project of an Ameri
can creed was originated. 1t was for
maliy accepted In the name of the
United States government by the
speaker OF the house OF representa-
tves ON April 8 and by the United
States commissioner OF education. Il
properly disseminated the patriotic eff
feet should be enormous. II might bs
well for the churches to take Ii up al
well as the schools. Department stores
should be willing to print II In theiI
advertisements al they do appeals fol
Liberty bonds. 1t should appear OF
theatrical programs, baseball score
cards. magazine covers.
Meanwhile Mr.. Charles b. Falls, thu
artist. Is making a dignided decorative
border to be reproduced with the creet