Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-08-21
PATRIOTISM.

war, but this is mistake
War has no attractions for the
true patriot; but to the loud-voiced
demagogue, each tritling, diplomatic
incident becomes good ground for
war. The jingoist resents each in
suit to his country, fiery oratory. The
very housetops resound with his de-
mands for war, and blatant profess
tations of love and loyalty to his
country. His unresisted oratory is
! war, has stirred alarms that shoulder
potent cause for declaration Of
and burst forth in flames in the
breast of public opinion. The people
clamor for war but counts not the
cost. Public opinion is intoxicated
with the drugs of hate and fear. At
such times the demagogue retires
beyond consequence of the havoc that
his words have wrought. The army
is not made up of men but is COM
posed of true patriots. The men who
desiring war, yet offer themselves a
silent sacrifice on their country's al
tar. The true patriot is ready to give
his life for his country, altho he does
not carry chip on his shoulder. He
tries to see fairness in dealing with
his own and every other country. He
is willing to make sacrifices if needs,
for he has looked the bloody deyas-
tation of war in the face
I We can not always say that the
country's most patriotic citizens are
those who organize machine-gun fac
tories and receive for services the
hollow title of COLONEL. The true
patriot serves where he is most
needed, whether that be on farm, in
the factory or at the battle front.
/ He does not heed the long-faced,
sad-eyed pacifist who tries to con-
vince him of the sin Of waging war.
! To him war is a reality, duty that
must be met. He spends no time in
scruples or splitting imaginary hairs
in the hour of his cosntry's need.
He fights his hardest battle for the
country of his birth and does not call
1t murder. His conscience is no easy
task master, making fiimsy excuses
to shield him from mans duty to
his homeland. He sees but two al
ternatives--to fight for his country
when it needs him or stand forever
branded as base COWARD.
! He does squibhle when his
country calls him, leaves home
and friends, shoulders his gun,
buckles on his sword and marches to
the battlefield. The true patriot is
not an inventor of another's country,
but protector of his own. He would
not be true patriot if this were not
true. No man can be true patriot
and at the same time willing to sac
rifice his own country for the bene-
fit of others. The patriotic man has
implicit faith in the ultimate triumph
of own righteous cause. Sir William
Wallace, the defender Of Scottish
rights that GOD ARMETH. THE
PATRIOT" History bears out this
belief of his. Instances are number
; less where a handful of consecrated
patriots have freed their land from
oppression. Switzerland gained her
freedom from the Austrians who out
numbered her many times.
The United States in all her nation
al strength and glory stands today as
triumphant monument to the colonial
patriots who believed in the holiness
of war in just cause Can we today
assert that Putnam was less patriotic
because re raised his hand against
the oppressor? What would have
been the result if he had sat supinely
by and answered his country's call for
help with an argument against the
unholiness of war?
Stable government Is a guarantee
to the citizens of any country that
their interests viii be projected at
home and abroad In return for this
protection the honorable man can do
less than stand ready and willing at
all times to do his individual beats to
protect the government when enemies
assail it.
But too often we feel in being will
ing to die for our country We fulfill
all obligations and rank ourselves
without doubt, among the nations
truest patriots. There is yet high
ier patriotism than that. In the life
span Of some of us the question of
barred swords never raises to haunt
the nation. Then are we not patriots
since the country does not need our
blood?
! We may, we may not be. If we
place our country's interests before
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