The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-06-22

following the arm1Stice did America
stand out true blue for her ideals.
Those days were the best in the his
tory of our country since the days
of TITS. Spoiled by miserable COM
promise since-still they will be writ
ten in history-and the men who had
the principal roles will be vindicated
as the greatest men of our age or
time.
The stripes speak to us of the pain
and labor with which the flag was
born, and the stars are the emblem of
victory and triumph.
Such symbolism is beautiful and
valuable. But it is apt to be receiv-
ed by the average American as mere
sentiment, and it's real value forgot
ten.
The flag stands for us as more than
in theological terms q sacrament. 1t
is the outward visible sign of some
thing unseen, yes perhaps unrealized
The flag is personification of one
country. A country too big and too
little known for us to realize. A coun
try whose natural resource has hard
ly been touched Whose bosom con
tains treasures, whose waterpower is
unlimited. Whose soil will feed the
world. Whose harbors are of the
best. Whose climate is as varied as
the world knows. Whose people are
the children of all the nations of the
world.
A nation in it's youth, as yet un-
crowded and able almost alone to
support the world.
Truly it is a country unknown, for
what man, no matter how travelled
and learned he might be, has the
mind to grasp and appreciate the
greatness and possibilities, or even
the dangers and problems of this
youthful country with its mixed pop
ulation, it's wonderful resources and
almost unimaginable possibilities.
The flag l say stands as the out
ward and visible sign of the country
that you and l claim as our own. Its
symbolism speaks the ideals of that
country, it claims no honor or rev.
erence. it is the country which we
honor, and her ideals which we rev.
erence. The flag is in itself as moth
ing.
All of this is more or less pleasant
to hear and familiar to you all. bu,
for the rest of the time | would take
things perhaps not so pleasant to
hear. | doing so l affirm that
give place to no man in allegiance to
this country. | am not tinged with
anarchy. bolshevism, socialism, or any
other ism, unless it be idealism. /
in J,n ultimate fri1trnr11 ~
the ideals of true democracy in this
country. I raise my voice America,
may she always be right" but ! con-
fess her sins as | would my own,
and l renounce them as unworthy.
So, let me turn to some things
believe our country needs today.
Things which it behooves us to strive
for and fight for, if we are sincere
in the homage we so proudly do the
flag which is our country.
The first great need of our coun-
try today, l believe, is knowledge
of things as they are. 1t is all right
to sing MY Country 'Tis of Thee.
Sweet Land of Liberty" but it is not
facing facts.
Liberty, justice and equality. Are
we keeping pace with the world in
the idealism which We once held up
alone?
Liberty suffered a severe setback
during the war. There are men in
Leavensworth today who would long
ago have been set at liberty had they
lived in the days of Washington and
sing the right of free speech which
those early fathers of this country
held so dear. Justify their imprison-
ment during the war if you will. but
you cannot justify it today when even
the nations of Europe (Which make
no loud claims as we do) have set
at liberty their political prisoners.
Justice, one of our own supreme
courts is quoted as saying: "the pro-
cess of the law is too slow, too ex-
pensive and archaic to meet the needs
of justice. What poor man can
keep the wheels of legal machinery
grinding till he gets justice?
Equality, equality of opportunity!
The beautiful ideal of our fathers
where is it? The economic system
under which we live has made it
but a will of the wisp.
say the first great need of our
country is a knowledge of things as
they are. Men are so busily engageu
in the materialistic things that an
intelligently informed man on the
status of government is a rarity. We
simply do not know what is going
on in the country about us. We dc
not realize how worn and useless is
the machinery of government for the
accomplishment of the ideals of ouI
fathers. We think because we sing
Sweet Land of Liberty" that it il
so. The machinery Of government
which gave liberty. justice and equal
ity in the time of our great grand
fathers will not turn out a service
able brand of it in this day of or
ganization. big business, labor com
binations and scientific development
We need to know and not take fol
granted.
The second great need of our coun
try is for sacrifice and service.
Political sordidness and corruption
in high places can only be cured by
men who will serve and sacrifice. Not