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Show CURRENT COMMENT I DON'T helieve patriotism is decadent in any of our manhood. I mean hy patriotism, love of country. But I do helieve that love for government is quite decadent, hecause of the iniquities of government. gov-ernment. These are hard days for governments all over4 the earth. But they have made it hard for themselves. Now if men seem to love America less than they did, there is a reason, for it. It is to be found in the spirit of tolerance toler-ance and charity that has permeated all our thought of life of late years. We have been preaching and writing and talking about a world federation for a number of years now. And the people have begun to think in these terms. "He is not an American at all who wants liberty but will not give it. In fact the best patriotic American is he who thinks fearlessly for his country's coun-try's good and speaks his convictions, even against his government. The real traitor is ho who will allow himself to be smothered into silence by anyone, even those in authority. "Every man who preached against war before we went into it and for charity among nations and then backslid, is responsible with us for the lax J Interest in the present war. We cannot now change our minds even though we are commanded to do so. There is not less patriotism than formerly. We p do not love ourselves less, but we love others more. "It is hopeful that patriotism thinks today. It is promising that patriotism pa-triotism refuses to wear shackles any longer. It is a splendid thing that men will not longer be owned and heralded like so many cattle. It means a freer and better America. "It means America will be free at home. It means that America will afford every man a chance to help her, and a chance to develop his best as a part of her greatness. Patriotism was never saner and surer than now. Governments may endeavor to control, the people for their own ends, but the people will have the last say. Our government, along with every other, is impotent before the people. The people are beginning to realize this, and they are taking their own way of doing things and adopting their own plans for the country's good, regardless of what the government may plan for them. "Let us remember that America is not the government; it is the country. Let us remember that the country is for the common good and that the government gov-ernment is the servant, not the master of that common good, and that it deserves its life only so long as it serves that common good well." By Rev. Ernest F. Weise in Bridgeport Life. |