| Show TWO QUALITIES OF patriotism like almost everything else under the sun patriotism varies in quality some of it is very good while some of it is very poor and there are many varying grades between the two extremes since the war with spain began a great deal of patriotic feeling has been developed in utah and a great many men have signified their willingness or their ardent desire as an the case may be to enlist the great mass of these men have had no strings on their patriotism they have been willing to serve their country as common soldiers merely their love ot of country has been genuine and of the first quality but quite a large number of gentlemen have come forward and have expressed pressed their willingness or their ardent desire as the case may be to enlist provided their patriotism le ia of the contingent variety there are strings to it about half a hundred of these individuals have filed applications with governor wells or the wal wa department for commissions if they can be permitted to wear epaulets before the same have been earned these gentlemen are willing to serve their country on the tented field otherwise they will remain at home and make money in the various ways that are within their reach not forgetting schemes for civil office when the next I 1 political campaign opens no elaborate analysis of human na ture its weak weaknesses nekses and virtues la Is needed in order to show the difference between the patriotism of the men who are awaiting final action on their applications 1 for commissions and that ot of the men who offered themselves to their country without reserve willing to march in the ranks or to wear either chevrons che or oiz epaulets as those above them might determine there to Is something grand about the patriotism of the latter but about that of the former there is something that is not at all ail grand it may be that the sort of patriotism which is willing to serve its country and defend its ts flag on the contingency of office and emolument is better than none at all but it is a wonderfully good thing tor for the principles of human liberty that the american people are capable of developing another kind |
