Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-30
a Parable Of Patriotism,

TN ONE Of our large cities a man of ex.
i alted public position addressed an assem-.
blaEe of more than 5000 of his couutrymer
Of the same foreign birth. The occasion wae
the commemoration Of the death Of one OF
their native patriots The verbatim transla.
ton here given is verified as exact by the
orator himself:
Fellow Americans--I am going to make
confession. an apology and a promise.
1 have never been true to you. to our
country or to myself. You, tie unthink-
ing part Of you. have looked upon me as a
hero. because I posed as one of yourselves
who had risen by merit from your state
OF obscurity to position of eminence and
worth In the social and Intellectual life Of
the city. But I have never told you the
truth about any Of these things.
am only sawdust hero 1 am not
representative Of genuine things that make
lie worth living. My position hold largely
by virtue of the same kind Of vicious politi-
cal and social system that holds you in your
present bondage When got where am.
social standing. 1 did nothing to tighten
your burdens or make you good Ameri-
cans. The political kennel from which I
graduated to security had fixed its habits
upon me and I exploited you, my Official
position, my countrys needs, all to crafty
my vanity. ...
At your celebrations I make speeches.
but tell you nothing that touches your
intimate, personal lives needs. In your
parades l ride on the band wagon with
arsstocrats whom I emulate In my social
life. have sunk into the slippered ease
OF smooth. lazy, luxurious routine-in
my home, my clubs, my official position.
Consequently, l have made virtually no
progress In intellectual or moral develop
ment SO ttat I could deal with your prob
lens. which are many. On the contrary,
my name and political pull have been the
means of putting In your midst unscrupu-
lous adventurers who hold you in subjec-
ton while they fill their Golfers They have
even played me false,
But those days and those conditions are
past and done. I am from this day one Of
you in spirit. sympathy and determination
to become fOnest men and good Americans.
; I'll make n systematic effort to develop my
mind and my character so that I can help
your assimilation into our regenerate
Amercanism.
I'll stop exploiting you. I'll work to
educate you, to develop your enlightened
ideals, to make you socially and intelectu-
ally free and to give you your birthrights
of unhampered self realization. I will
longer be a tool of the ignorant autocrats
who hold you in subjection by means Of
fear. and I'll drive to helpless cover those
rascals who are 80 cheating our country
and us. No more cheap newspaper no.
toriety and Misrepresentation at your ex-
pensc, and no more counterfeit people.
ideals or poses will figure in my soul
outward life. 1t will take time to form
these new habits but you have my word
that 1t will be done and I'll work for you
as human beings and Americans, SO telp
me God
The CONSERVATION Of the audience was
great. but the applause was greater. When
one of his friends asked what was responsible
for his change Of heart, the ora tor replied :
Well. just realized what President
Wilson meant when he wrote that no foreign
power will ever again be permitted to exploit
a weaker people. l saw that democracy
must begin at home and I've started to do
my share" ALBERT c. BARNES.
Merton, July 30.