The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-04-29
Stirring Address
On Moral Conditions
In Lakeland
CONTINUED from Page l.,

haunis and vices OF sin BY more mature
minds. Punishment begins higher.
The children Of Lakeland shall defend
even in their transUessions because q few
have been denied their birthright. The
men and women Of Lakeland have their
clubs, organizations, and lodges for civic
and other purposes and | haven't an i'll
word to say against these orders, but my
friends, while you are enjoying these things
what provision has been made for the
boys and girls in our town? The answer
comes back, 'None."
We speak Of the improvement and the
building Of new roads and streets, and
am for them; you speak of identifying
and decorating your city; and am for it;
you speak of better and more beautiful
orange groves and | am for them; you
speak Of a better breed Of cattle, hogs,
horses and sheep, and am for it; but
not one word for gymnasium, play ground
movement, library, and other agencies to
properly direct their energies Not one
thing has been done about giving
them and throwing about them bet
ter and a purer moral atmos-
| phere-really the only investment
in life that will yield truly dividend
which eventually becomes the capital stock.
Let us put up. the bulwarks Of safety
around the children and protect them from
evil. Not wait until they are in the clutch
es Of vice, then try to crush their little
live out. Begin in time and you will save
your boys and girls.
The American government as well as
all true nations Of the earth, rest upon the
three vertices Of the triangle, known as
the home, church and school. The strength
and power Of nation, especially repub-
lican nation, is in the intelligent and we'll
ordered homes Of the people and in edu.
eating these homes we evangelize the world
Hamilton said in speaking of home:
"That integrity must be the architect, and
tidiness the upholsterer. 1t must be warm
ed by affection, lighted up with cheerful
ness, and industry must be the ventilator,
renewing the atmosphere and bringing in
fresh salubrity day by day; while over all,
as protecting canopy and glory, nothing
will suffice but the blessing Of Cod"
As the clock ticks off the hours drawing
near midnight Of that home marking the
passing of the sweetest memories like the
swaying of pendulum the fading
Of shadow on the floor, may Hamilton's
word picture be supreme. While the ma.
terial of which the home is made will rot
and decay, may the sweetest memories still
linger and maintain its hold with such
unfailing sway that we can feel it in old
age and the last hour" When the thief
comes to steal the harmony and virtue of
that home, may the old sentinels, who
have watched over their brood so long,
still be on guard. Let nothing that affects
the home and its welfare escape the atten-
ton Of those who are responsible for the
being Of that home. Let no crimes be
committed and treated as joke. Let for.
titude and courage be in the front to
serve as the breastworks for the safety of
the home. bow in obeisance to the
loyal mothers Of this country upon whose
shoulders nearly all the responsibility for
the rearing and home-training Of children
rest.
The brauest battle that waS euer fought,
Shall | tell you where or when?
On the maps OF the worid you'll find it moi;
T,oas fought BY the mothers Of men.
Nay, not Nth cannon or battle shot,
! With sword or noble pen,
MAJ, not With the eloquent word or thought,
From the mouths Of wonderful men.
But deep in the iodiled-up woman's heart-
| Of pomen that oouid not yield.
But brapely, silently bore their part
J Lo, there is the battle field.
No marshating troops, no bipouac song,
| No banner to CLEAN and Udpe;
But oh, these battles they last so long
From babyhood to the grave.
, And when these battles are fought in the
home by patient mother is it not worth
while that clean moral atmosphere be
thrown around them in the city? May
be fearless in my denunciation Of the
'haunts Of vice and the slackness with
which the administration Of your city has
dealt with the agents that offend these
little ones, and when you offend these boys
and girls you should offend every decent
and law abiding citizen of Lakeland, for
these boys and girls are entitled to a
healthy air to breathe.
! am not unfriendly to the men who con.