Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-18
PATRIOTISM AND POSTERS

Stands for the display Of postsrs intended to stinu-
late army and navy enltstnents bear the legend patriot
Lana should protect this poster. The use Of this sentence
was prompted. OF course. by tho fact that In many Cases
posters have been torn down or defaeed. sometimes
doubtless out Of malice. but usually 1t Is to be supposed
through thoushtlessness. The governnen: very properly
calls attention to the fact that the posters which it dis
prcssions of our national government, and that q. proper
conception of our relation to that government demands
that they be properly protected. No exception can be
taken OF the idea or to the manner Of its expression.
Patriotism has been given many definitions The
simplest one describes it az "love Of country Like many
other definitions, that. itself needs to be defined. and no
set Of words can cover adequately all that is incluled in
this one word. Patriotism involves, Of course, respect
for law. respect for the dignity Of government. and an
earnest desire that government be conducted in such a
manner a. 10 produce the best possible results. Too strong
emphaais cannot be placed on all these features, but
there are others Of a more personal and intimate character
which are equally included In the conception Of real pa
triotisn. True love Of country does not stop with the
government. The patriotic thought Of the good citizen
is not all centered in Washington. Our country is all
about US. Its people are ourselves and our immediate
ne'shbors. Its we'll being is their we'll being. and ours,
and this we'll being relates to everything that touches hui
man life in the home. on the street. in the schools, in the
church. everywhere.
Patriotism demands obedience to law. We must OBJ
serve the acts Of congress because those are the acts Of
our government. But the obligation does not end here.
One Of the cardinal principles of patriotism in its largest
sense was enumerated nearly 1000 years ago in the words,
DO unto others as you would that they would do unto
you That brings in the relation Of citizen to citizen,
neighbor to neighhcr. 1t brings in the mutual relations
of employer and enploye, and it touches even on what
may appear such an insignificant subject as the display
Of posters.
The government properly asks that its posters be pro-
tected from injury, for one thing, as a matter of utility be-
cause they are intended to serve practical purposes, and
for another as a matter of neat and orderly appearance.
The patriotic spirit cannot be said to be properly express
ed if the surroundings of the community are down at the
heel The ragged and unkernpt poster is apt to be typical
of the ragged and unkempt public spirit, or dirty streets,
Uttered yards. unwholesome surroundings OF every kind.
1t is apt to indicate a disregard of public health, neglect
OF education, and !nattention to the multitude of little
details which in the mass make up life.
Let the government posters be protected. Let the
spirit which promotes their protection extend to all .other
surroundings in ths community, and if a proper regard for
e1ternals is indicative OF a mental and spiritual condition,
and usually it Is, We may reasonably suppose that the
which presents a good appearance is making
satisfactory progress in all that pertains to public morality.