Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-06-14
"MY OWN COUNTRY"
By j. B. WinsIow, Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court.
Is Flag Day Today.

one of the strongest emotions of she
human heart, Whether that coun-
try be large or small, whether it shiv-
er under the wintry blasts of the
frozen north or bask under the glor-
ious sunlight of the tropics, it's very
name carries an appeal to the native
born like the appeal of home and
mother.
1t has been the favorite theme of
the poets pen and the artists brush,
and it has nerved the hearts of patri-
OTIS in every age to those deeds OF
heroism which history has crowned
with Immortality.
1t is related of the great novelist,
Scott, that, in his last days, when
death had already marked him for it's
own, he travelled to Italy in the hope
of regaining some measure of health
and strength. 1t was vain hope,
and, as month followed month and he
realized that he was steadily losing
the battle for life, his longing to see
his native land once more became SO
great that his attendants sorrowfully
turned their steps homeward. With
difficulty they made the long journey,
Cor with every mile the great mans
: condition became worse, but the
thought Of home and country bueyed
him up, and when at last he saw in
the distance the ripping Tweed and
heathery hills of Scotland, tears of
Joy filled his eyes and he murmured,
ST haze seen much, but nothing like
nv ain home. He knew his death
was near, but he. was serenely happy;
he was in his native land at last. 1t
was the fairest land in the world to
him and there he was content to die.
And SO it has always been. To the
Irishman there is no land like Erin,
the Frenchman's heart is ever true to
beautiful Frances and the German
knows no land ito compare with the
Fatherland.
Is it quite so with Americans?
They talk much of the Stars and
Stripes, and have great deal to say
of Uncle Sam and of Americas great
but do they as people possess that
devoted love for their country that
other peoples have?
One would hesitate TO answer this
question with an unqualified negative,
but it must be admitted that there is
in this country very widespread at
titude of faint-hearted loyalty and in
difference to the duties of citizenship
which makes one doubt whether it
can be- answered in the affirmative.
And yet no people ever had better
reason to be proud of their country
than Americans, and no child ever
had nobler birthright:.t than the Amer
can child.
Let us think for a moment why
this is so. One might rightly emu
merate here the physical and materi-
al treasures with which America is
blest; her mountains, her lakes her
rivers and forests, her mineral re-
sources, and her fertile plains unsur-
passed as they are in beauty and eX-
tent by those of any other country:
these are all things OF which we have
a right to be proud, but let US now
consider rather the spiritual than the
material blessings with which we
Americans are surrounded, and let us
think also OF what those blessings
have cost.
We should realize first of all that
this is Tie land of golden opportunity
the iarlu where the path OF advance
menC is open to every youth. There
are here no distinctions OF birth OF
rank to be broken down, no chains OF
caste which bar the way.
Not long nee at great patriotic
meeting in Chicago one of the speak
ers was u man OF foreign birth who
spoke english with decided accent,
and VINO, from very humble station
had become the head of a great press
association. He said in substance.
"Why should [ not be a patriot? !
came to this country a poor boy
obliged to work IN mine 20 geG my
living. | am now honored by being
requested to address a great meeting
of my fellow citizens who are consld
ering some of the gravest questions
ever considered by any people. In nc
country in the world other than
America would this be possible. Why
should I not be epatriot? Why
should not be faithful to the death
to country which has freely given
me such an opportunity?"
The audience Numbered it's ap
plause: the question was unanswered
and unanswerable And how die
America come to be the land OF op
portunity? Let us see.
Nearly three centuries ago the came
to this land, where up to that time
only the Indian roved, bands of mer