New Britain herald., 1930-05-26
Militant Patriotism Is Assailed,
Ballot Fight Against Crime Urged
By Newington Minister In Address

i've which powerfully moves GER
tam selfish interests to make war,
namely. the profits involved. It is
quite possible that if no profits were
to be made there would be no moro
war.
But whether such legislation is
possible or not it grows increasing
iy clear that the real patriot is the
man who stands on Ms own two
feet and asks questions of his
leaders before he follows them. If
any one lesson comes to US out of
the World war it is this; the COM
mon people of the world, these who
are expected to risk their lives in
battle, will be wise if they demand
reasons and not slogans before Of
fering themselves a living sacrifice
on the altar Of the god of Mars. If
this nation, or any nation would be
truly great it must be made up of
cltizenry which refuses absolutely
to give a blind and unreasoning
loyalty, beautiful though that some
times may be. Our patriotism TO-
Cay must be open-tyed. intelligent.
Bravery in Peace
Il also am going to venture to
suggest that if our dead comrades
could be with us this evening they
would tell us that the real test of
our patriotism does not lie in the
| brave and heroic deeds we perform
in war but by the courageous lives
We live in time of peace. It is one
thing TO give answering loyalty to
our country in time of great emer-
gency. ltas another to give it in
times OF peace. In time Of war it
| did not seem too difficult nor
hazardous a thing for our comrades
! to sacrifice that which they held
dearest and best for the sake of
their country. They gave their all
because they were at heart great
| patriots. Can the same be said of
! us in time OF peace?
"Thero are great problems facing
/ this country which must be solved.
/ They are such that they demand the
most courageous loyalty which We
can summon. II America is TO
continue as a. democracy, if she is
10 continue to guarantee liberty and
justice for all, then the greatest call
TO patriotic duty challenges US to-
day. Some of you heard Dr. Smith
| address great gathering in Hart
ford few days ago. You heard
him quote Senator Fess Of Ohio as
saying that the greatest business in
America today is not General
Motors. or United States steel. the
greatest business is building
fences" What did he mean He
meant that a certain laNless Gle
ment were enjoying protection
which they have bought and paid
for while they steal billions of dol
lars by theft, fraud, fake stock pro-
motions and the like.
Crime Threatens Country
He meant that here is business
which unless the great mass of
loyal, laW-abding American citizens
awaken to their responsibility will
destroy our much Wanted democ-
racy that our representative gov
eminent will pass from our hands
INTO the hands Of few unscrup
ulou5 men who make and break
laws for their own gain The peril
to our nation from this source is
far greater than was any danger of
a German invasion decade ago, far
greater than the imaginary attack
our militry leaders fear at the hands
OF sNl more imaginary enemy.
We are dismayed by the ire
mendous size of this huge octopus
Which is poisoning the life Of our
nation and squeezing out high ideals
and finest traditions We long to
seize arms again to drive the dread
cd enemy from our shores. But We
cannot dot The most powerful
weapon We have at our command is
the ballet, This We must, Use TO
make powerful thrusts at the oncmv
winch now threatens the life of our
nation. We must demand that can
dldates for office. be honest. cour
3geous. capable, if they want our
votes 10 the man who directly or
indirectly violates his public trust it
must be made clear that he has
written his own sentence of doom.
10 all who would seek public office |
T. must be made plain that we. the |
VOTERS OF America at last have |
awakened; that Nc put loyalty to |
our country above loyalty to A |
party. The American Legion has
reason to profoundly thank God !
that its founders were led to Law
down as one of the fundamental |
precepts of the organization tine !
principle that the organization
should De non partisan. For if this
means anything at all it means i
that the vote of a Legionnaire will
be cast. regardless of party affils-
tons, and only in the interests of a |
better town, state and nation. The
ballot gives the plain American
citizen who believes in decent or
Derry government, in clean and |
happy homes, and in the equality of
opportunity for all. the right to saw
of those lawless elements who |
through one means and another
would destroy all this, They shall
rot pass Comrades. a great legacy
OF patriotism has been handed to
US by the dead. Let us use it in the
interests of a better America.
Asks Peaceful Observance
Memorial Day for many years
has belonged in a very peculiar
sense TO the veterans OF the Civil II
war. 1t will continue TO belong to 1
them so long as any shall live. But
each year thins their ranks and
soon We will have nothing left of
them but cherished memory.
More and more the keeping of the