Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
LOYALTY AND THE FAMILY.

Patriotism Is the backbone OF loyalty, and
nation, but also to the family, the job and the
community. Disregard for these obligations OF
good citizenship is always a danger signal.
The family is the foundation, as it was the
beginning, Of society, and has been ever since
man the animal became man the human being,
thousands Of years ago. There was no loyalty
OF any sort when the relations Of men and
women were as fitting and void Of sentiment as
those of wild animals.
The evolution Of the family was the begin
ming Of society and all its aspirations and prob
lens, and the story OF its origin il an absorbing
one, too long to be told here. But through all
the ages and civilizations since the first crude
marriage ceremony, family love has been the
keynote of every forward movement of the
human race.
1t is, therefore, 4 matter OF serious concern
when men anywhere lose loyalty to their
families, and profoundly disturbing when
modern government sanctions attacks on mar
rage and family ties That has been done in
Russia, if we may credit reports from that
troubled country. Authority has been set up
there to destroy family life by granting divorces
on mere application Of husband OF wife. The
world has long known civilization was slipping
in Russia, but nothing quite 30 vicious Is this
lapse from moral order has hitherto been re-
veaied. The reason for il is obvious. The
leaders Of bo1shevism and sovietisn are dis
loyal to marriage and society, because love Of
family Is the strongest pillar q ali benign and
humane governments. The loyal head of
family will work, save, and deny himself for it;
and to protect it must support the principles OF
thrift, religion and civil liberty. The bolshevik
wants none Of these. His perverted intellect
seeks disorder, conhscation Of property and the
destruction Of legal processes and sound eco
nonlic principles. -..
Loyalty puts mans heart into his work
and breeds success. 1t makes of him good
husband and father, and conservative citizen.
He becomes lover and defender Of law and
order, because upon their stability depends the
happiness and security Of his wife and children,
and the permanence of the job that supports
them. Many of the problems of the day, per-
haps a majority Of them, simmer down to
matter of loyalty. The forces of disorder are
always disloyal--to their families their en-
ployers, and their communities. They repudiate
the only principles on which civilization can
thrive.
The hideous political ideas that Turk in boil
shevstic and soviet government leave little
room for loyalty to God, country or family.
They are wholly devoted to greed and rrespon-
sible power. The misdemeanors Of unprinci
pied capitalists the world over pale into utter
insignihcance when compared with the poison
Gus and corroding influence Of the ungodly
radcalism thrown temporarily into power in
Russia by the ferment of war;
So long as family love and loyalty prevail
in American homes, and our youth and those
who come to US from foreign shores, are taught
that the only road to comfort, safety and hap
piness is that Of hard work. thrift and loyalty
to home, employer and government the baneful
doctrines of reckless radicalism will gain no
permanent foothold here.