The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-26
PATRIOTISM AS DISPLAYED
WITH THE CUT.OUT OPEN

Recently there was a strike Of the waters in the principal
Paris cafes. The walters won the strike, and among the con-
eesstons granted by the proprictors was the privilege OF wearing
a nustaehe,
Now come the ~proprietors demanding that the walters cut
off their ~mustaehes, to which demand the walters have replied
in a statement of which the following is the final word Of the
nronunciamento: I'VE must insist that the conventions entered
into at the time Of the strike be respected; that the mustache has
always been in vogue in France, and to suppress it is an %indignity
and d~iminshes the morale, value and patriotism OF the personnel
OF the cafes"
1t had not occurred to us that a waiter with a uusache is
more patriotic than a waiter without a nustachc. No doubt a
waiter with q nustache feels that way. It had not even occurred
to us that a waiter without a mustachc is more patriotic than
\ waiter with a mustache. No doubt a waiter without a mustache
feels that he is, We do not doubt the sincerity OF the waiter
who declares that to suppress his nustachc is to diminish his
patriotism, We do not doubt the sincerity of most men who base
their conduct upon their zeal for patriotic service, What we
think Of their patriotism is another thing
Even the patriotic prcftccr has made his appearance, Some
excuse their protiteering on the ground that the bigger their
profit the bigger the governments share Two candidates tor
a municipal office usually sssail each others patriotism, A public
official who does not act in accordance with the views Of . con-
stiuent Is denounced as unpauiotc. Some persons seer, to have
an idea that patriotism, instead OF having It's seat in the heart,
is a function of the vocal cords, a lot OF socaled patriotism
is q dust kicked up to camoulage tho profit made out OF those
who bore the brunt Of the war,
The New York World and St. Louis Post Dispatch recently
sent Clair Kenanore, a special writer, to Helena, Ark to get
a special story about the Phillips county uprising, He discussed
the affair with a prominent negro, described by him AZ a man
EA hNNAk ESNN' NN'& L'HL ESINH N'S1' SN'h'N NffSRN 8A'NN
" interested in his race He quotes this leader as saving
Gases like this will occur as long as my race produces brilliant
specimens OF the CRATER like this man Fill, While ] earnestly
believe that the remedy is education, still know that ~gullhiity
and credulitv cannot be educated out OF a people, These ignorant
negroes doubtless thought they were doing q wise and patriotic
thing The whole fabric OF this deceit was founded on loyalty
to government
Thus we see how far patriotism. either real or imagined, can
&c, Old John Brown was alame with patriotic real. He would
have given up his life or %overthrowu the government for the
accomplishment OF his purpose, DAnnunzio is making a fool
Of himself by his patriotic demonstrations, and his army Is steadily
growing, The poems of Mexico regard Villa as the super-patrct,
who robs the rich and gives to the poor, Constitutional govern
nent Is never changed except by revolution, II tine revolution
succeeds the controlling element is patriotic, II it fails the revc-
luionists arc traitors, The majority cannot be guilty OF treason.
In this country there is an orderly, legal and constitutional
way TO correct inequality and injustice, An effort TO accomplish
a desired end by the employment OF other means is an attack
upon the foundation Of the government L~ynchings are the mani
fcstatiou OF ippatiencc with the law and orderly procedure,
But there is a patriotism in this country that is not vocal,
II was as strong and outstanding before the war as it is now,
but It is only since the war that men OF conviction and strength
Of character are pinored as unpatrioue because they disagree
with the opinion OF someone else,