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:
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