The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-13

Mrs. Stephen S. Markley, perhaps,
was the only Richmond citizen to en-
ter the contest which sought ma.
;ional creed She has submitted for
publication constructive discussion
of the creed adopted by the commit
tee and also copy of the one she sub
mitted to the Judges. Her comment
airy on the creed which was chosen
follows:
To the Editor:
e Enclosed You will find copy OF the
creed entered in the contest for Cit
liens National Greed. have dit
ferent idea of the present day senti-
ment of American citizens and what
should be included In their National
Greed. To me. the creed accepted AS
that expressing the spirit of the ma
ton is lacking in that it does not ex-
press any obligation or duty in refer
ence to other nations of the world.
1t would have embodied the spirit
of America before the Spanish Amer
lean war or even perhaps five years
ago before the beginning of this world
war, but since then there has come
into existence an idea that includes
more than the love of our own country
and it's defense.
As American citizens, We feel that
we can not limit ourselves to that
idea World conditions demand that
we take broader view of our duties
as citizens of the Worlds Greatest
Republic.
Spirit of Heip&Wg.
I believe that our soldiers in France
and those in this country and their
supporters at home are putting more
into their patriotism than a defense OF
our own land We recognize this in
all of President Wilson's addresses
and in General Pershing's words,
Lafayette we have come" meaning
that we have come not only for our
own self-defense, but also in spirit
of helping other nations in their time
of direst need.
Again it has something more than
national defense when General Per
shine offered the American Forces to
the French General 1t was some
thing expressing more clearly the new
American creed of our obligations
to other nations.
It seems to me that our creed as
American citizens should contain a
sentiment that shows the recognition
of our duty to the helpless victims of
a wrong system.
This idea had its beginning in the
time of Abraham Lincoln, and the
Spanish American war showed the
growth and expansion of that idea.
The Emancipation Proclamation was
based not only on the idea of making
the nation inseparable, thus adding
to it's strength for defense against flu
ture enemies, and making possible the
of a government of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
pie, but underlying this motive was
also the basic one that the slave had
an inherent. moral right to be free,
and was helpless victim of an UNI
just system.
The United States is entering a
new era in which the Monroe Doctrine
must be given a more liberal inter-
probation for we are no longer alb
sorbed entirely in our own defense.
The addresses of President Wilson
show an underlying thought of our
duty to all humanity in its struggle
toward freedom.
Our dream of national freedom has
been realized. and although it is now
we have enlarged it to
a dream OF World Freedom in oppo-
sition to the Kaiser's dream of World
Empire.
MRS. STEPHEN c. MARKLEY.
Mrs, Mark,ey's Creed
Appended is the creed she Sub
mitted:
We believe that freedom is the
righteous desire of the people of all
nations, and that Republics are the
Of the twentieth century
ideal of government.
Only in Republics and Democracies
do we find governments that stand
guard over the liberty. safety and
of all mankind.
Autocracy plants itself as barrier
across the pathway of its peoples
and grudgingly grants to
its subjects only that which it fears
o withhold.
AS citizens of the United States. we
would emphasize the idea that we are
to the oppression OF any ne,
ion by the rulers thereof We stand
for the rights of the people every ,
here. whether in Poland, Cuba, Mex
20. the Philippines or in anV other ,