Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-03
VIOLENCE Is NOT PATRIOTISM

(FTOm wednesday 3 Da1ly)
b There is q proper sense Of proper
tions in Mason City. When the chief
Of police undertake. to give a lesson In
patriotism to husky young farme.
who, engrossed In affectionate good
byes to his mother and sister. failed
to recognize the strains Of the national
anthem as played by the town band. a
thousands or more men and women
Immediately proclaimed mob law and
made a common enemy of the police
man. The latter escaped in an auto
mobile, paused at the city halk long
enough to resign and surrender his
star, and then left the community in
which he had been the guardian Of
law, order and the general moral tone.
That was on Monday. Yesterday he
was reported an having been seen
seen somewhere in Minnesota, and
If he continues porthward at undimin.
ished speed he probably will have
reached the wide wheat fields Of
Canada ~ sunset today.
It CHANGED that the young fam hand
who aroused the policeman's anger
by failing to remove his hat when The
Star Spangled Banner was played was
member of Cerro Gordo county's
newest draft contingent, about to en-
train for Camp Dodge to prepare for
his portion Of the argument which Is
going on In Europe. It was but natural
that he should give his entire attention
to his farewells, and II the bands
members showed no anger over his
failure to recognize their efforts as
tribute to the flag there seems to be
no good reason for the chief Of police
to have taken umbrage.
The recruit will learn to stand at at.
tention while the national anthem is
being played and he will learn the
reason why this is a rule OF the army
which has been adopted by loyal citi-
zens as q rule for their conduct also.
His failure to doff his hat does not OF
necessity indicate a lack Of patriotism,
under the. circumstances. nor does 1t
serve as sign that he will be any less
soldier than any Of his comrades in
mutt who, while he was being slapped
by the chief of police. stood hatless in
respectful tribute to the flag. He too.
should have interrupted his goodbyec,
il necessary, to join in the salute, but
II ever there was a time to excuse
and condone q shortcoming, that was
the moment.
The incident simply goes to show the
unwisdom of those who attempt to
teach patriotism by force. The action
OF the chief Of police at, Mason City
was in. direct line with those OF the
thousands Of well meaning Americans
who force sullen pro- Germans to kiss
the flag and then boast that they have
added another to the long list Of loyal
American citizens. .
Their lack of wisdom lies not so
much in what they do as In the Inn
preston they gain that their victim
is changed from disioyal individual
to a loyal one. It requires no particular
moral courage nor high standard OF
patriotism to salute the United States
flag: IL the salute is not given volun-
tarily, gladly, reverently and as tho
exercise OF privilege there is need
for lesson In patriotism, to be sure.
but it cannot be taught through med
ium of cuff on the cheek, a coat OF
tar and feathers or moose.
The really disloyal citizen, II his dis
loyalty Is voluntary, should be taken
into court under proper charges and
imprisoned for what he IL, an enemy
to the nation and its government. In
cases where there is no sufficient
ground for charges there is good rea.
son to believe that the apparent dis
loyalty Is not voluntary and that It can
be changed to loyalty II proper meth
DDS are employed. But violence and
force are not calculated to inspire
anything but fear or desire for re-
yenge. and neither Of these, qualities
is q component OF patriotism.