The Republican journal., 1918-06-27
What Constitutes
True Patriotism.


| This paper was prepared and read by
! Mrs. L. F. Sukeforth at the June meeting
of Waldo Pomona Grange aEd pr n d at
the request Of the Grange.
! Patriotism! Love for ones Country!
Unselfish devotion! Offering of life that
others may live and enjoy the benefits OF
! a free country and the civilization that 1t
representa-
! In 1776 our fathers had vision of a
new nation, conceived in liberty and
dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal. Then they fought a
mighty empire that they might realize
that vision. A few years later they fought
the greatest navy in the world, that they
might win for their nation the freedom OF
| the seas.
| Half century later they fought through
| the Civil War, the greatest war OF history
up to that time, that they might establish
the right to fife, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness. Only 20 years ago they
emancipated Cuba, educated the Flllplnos,
asked no idemnity of their vanqulshed
enemy but paid him literally for his prop
erty; and always have they kept open the
door of opportunity and welcomed here
the oppressed and humble of earth. Now
the civilization of the world that we call
Democracy has come to death grapple
with military Autocracy. One or the
other will fasten its hold upon mankind.
Though dark clouds are lowering over us,
have no doubt but Freedom will triumph,
but whether soon or late depends much
on the vigor and selfsacrifice with which
we, the children of Liberty, those here at
home as we'll as those in the trenches,
, dedicate ourselves to the struggle.
This is no time for ease or criticism or
debate The call is imperative and the
choice is clear. A people who Will not
defend their own security, their own hon
or, are well on the way to hopeless decay
or supine submission. A people who are
not ready, if need come, to give their
lives and their wealth for their country,
will soon have no country A nation that
will not protect its citizens will soon nave
no citizens to guard and defend its nation
al life. The cynic who can see in the
i history of his country only a theme for
patriot whatever his parentage or birth
place. They who look with pride upon
the history which our fathers have writ
ten by their heroic deeds and sacrifices,
) are true Americans and patriots whatever
their creed, or their politics, or their re-
ligion. 1t is test of their loyalty to the
flag.
We Americans have not yet gone down
into the valley of the shadow of death.
We have endured none of the agony that
the French and Belgian people have en-
dured for four awful years. But it may
come to US, and no American is patriot
who hesitates or bubbles, or falters, or
whines, whatever may be eXacted from
him No American is a patriot who is
not giving the best that is in him in
single-minded devotion to the cause OF
his country We have only one task and
that is to win this war, whatever it costs
and however long it may take. Every
thing else is inconsequentiaL Day by
day the Democracy for which we fight,
grows more and more worthy of our sacrj-
flee In this awful crucible the dross is
going. the vital parts are standing out.
But this is time for deeds as well as
words Our boys are giving up their
lives, making the greatest sacrifice that
human beings can render to their fellow
men, for you, for me, for humanity. 1t
you were up to your knees in Flanders
mud, shells screaming over your head,
men around you falling and dying in
agony, you not knowing how soon your
turn might come, how would you like to
think that there were comfortable, pros
porous people back home for whose sake
you were enduring all this, who had for
gotten you and the sacrifices you were
making to protect them and their possess
sions What would you think of the per-
son, who having the means, had not
bought Liberty Bond or even War
Stamp, who had never given dollar to
the Red Cross or any of the allied chari-
ties What would you think of the
woman who having the leisure, had not
knit or sewed a stitch, or done anything
to make conditions in the hospitals more
comfortable for the suffering victims of
the war. What would you think of their
brand of patriotism.
We of the civilized world have a mes
sage to Kaiserism. Our gallant fighting
men, lover there" are delivering their
share of the message in unmistakable
language, but we back home have our
message to deliver as we'll Our part IS
to provide the sinews of war in such law
ish abundance that the Hun will know
that we, too, are on his trail never to rest
till he is subdued, and if we at home do
what is expected of us, victory is as
sured.
, believe there is no finer form of gov
! eminent than the one under which we
live, and if we the descendants of the
old pilgrim fathers and mothers who
struggled with savages and subdued a
wilderness that we might enjoy this
beautiful land and the blessings of Free
dem, five have drop of their red blood
still coursing through our veins, we will
sacri fee to the last dollar, and the last
man and woman, that it may not perish
from the earth, either through treachery
within or unfriendly assaults from with
, out. This is true patriotism.
And remember this is an hour for faith
faith in ourcreator, faith in our lead ers