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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1893)
THE HESPERJ AN Patriotisn) and Brotherhood. This is u world of ideals; social, political, intellectual, religious. Toward tho fulfill ment of these ideals men strivo unceasingly. Tho whole problem of existence is to discover tho harmony between nature, man and God. The development of tho human race toward a more and more perfect realization of this harmony and of tho laws that govern it is tho supremo goal progross. Tho over pressing law of human progross demands a constant change of standards in modern life and thought, a change always toward tho more comprehensive, morG truly ideal ex istence. The first duty of the individual is to make tho most of himself. Self-preservation is tho first law of nature; self-development is the second. Progress is simply tho surplus in development. Tho modern evolution in industry and. in intellect is like money at compound interest. Each generation adds to the principal of human experience, as in terest for tho use of that principal, deeper thought, broader views, higher ideals. It is the surplus of our intellectual and spiritual wealth that we have to sharo with ourfollow mon. "A people" says Browning, "is but the attempt of many to rise to the completer life of one." In this steady growth, radi calism passes rapidly into conservatism. The new becomes old. What was good logic and'good ethics yesterday, is inade quate to tho requirements of to-day. In America, for the past hundred years, radi calism has been the seeking of personal rights; to-day it is the seeking of public rights. In the onward .march of humanity that wo call progress, America's first duty as a nation is self-development. Tho groat prime factor in this development is patriot ism. But self-development is selfish. Patri otism is to climb up, but it is to climb alone. To satisfy tho conditions of an ideal com munity wo must compensate for this selfish ness. Wo must keepclimbing, but we must pull up with us what is below. That is brotherhood. "Patriotism is tho lovo a man has for tho spot of ground ho calls homo." As timo dovolopos tho nation, this sentiment, so strong in each individual, extends to a protective lovo for tho whole. Tho nation becomes tho larger homo a native land, to bo defended and lo 7od as a very part of life. So our fore fathers thought of our country. They fought and died for it. Their patriotism was an essential part of their being. No other senti ment over ovon partially supplanted it. It secured for us a place among tho nations of tho earth; it assured safety and honor to us as a people; it opened tho way to all tho prosperity that wo enjoy. But before govern ment of tho people, by the people, could be secure, there must bo a sterner test. Tho awful struggle of tho civil war, a patriotic struggle in the highest sense, brought political freedom and equality within our boundaries to all men and for all timo. Tho Emancipa tion Proclamation was tho climax in this development. Tho political ideal was real ized. To-day, this United States of America stands before tho world, a vital, organic answer to that question so long guessed at and agonized over by tho nations, what is tho TRUE patriotism? 1 say, in 18G3 wo worked out tho problom with tho blood and tears of a million souls. To-day, patriotism on American soil has provided the surest foot-hold for the individual ho has over had since the Creation. Lot America guard closely her sacred heri tage. Tho fathers laid tho foundation of national unity and life; tho sons have burned out tho plague-spot that thtoateuod it. None of tho old hopeb and anxious fears that in spired their devotion exists to-day. Tho very fact that those inspiring springs have boon exhausted demands a more constant watch, a more jealous guard over the senti ment of our people toward their,, native land. "Ah, what a mighty trust is ours, the noblest ever sung, To keep this banner spotless, its kindred stars among ! Science may dare the mysteries of earth and wave and sky, Till none with us in splendor and strength and skill can vie: I L