Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1915 — PATRIOTISM IN QUIET PURSUITS [ARTICLE]

PATRIOTISM IN QUIET PURSUITS

Love of Home and Count!] Basis of Devotion. RALSTON TALKS TO G. A, R, Given Rousing Reception by Civi War Veterans at State Encamp merit, Marion*—Lauds Loyalty of Boys of '6l. The text of Governor Ralston's Bpeeeh delivered at Civic hall follows: “Commander-In-Chief, Members o: the Grand Army of the Republic of Indiana, Ladies and Gentlemen—] know I voice the sentiments of all Indiana when I thank the good citizens of Marion for the cordial and heartfelt reception they have tendered the members of the Grand Army of the Republic at this encampment. I want to congratulate them upon the fine spirit they have shown in decorating their city so beautifully, so patriotically, for this occasion. (Applause). "I never move out among the great people of Indiana that I do not return to Indianapolis to the discharge of my duties prouder then ever that -I am a citizen of the Hoosier stare. (Applause). ‘‘When I witness splendid demonstrations like these —these out-pour-lngs of affection —I always conclude that St. Peter was about right when he related the incident of the fellow who was trying to break loose from a post to which he had been tied. I do not know whether you have ever heard this story or not, but it runs briefly something after this manner—and Brother McKenzie will pardon md for telling the story. I do not that I have to ask his pardon, because there is nothing really wrong In the story, but I am so used to taking counsel of him that it comes quite natural for me to make an observation of this character. Fool Wants to Get Back to Indiana. ig.“Jt seems that it was on an examination day when St. Peter was examining applicants for the Golden Street, and one fellow was handed to him in a halter, just as St. Peter was pressed for time in making examinations of other individuals. He said tc the gentleman who presented him this applicant, ‘Tie him to the post there,’ and the order was followed out. And presently the fellow who was tied to post to surge back against the halter stray in an effort to break loose, when a by stander had his attention attracted to the conduct of the men tied to the post and he inquired who that Individ ual was and what he was trying to do. SL Peter looking at him said: “That fellow is a Hoosier, and the fool wants to go back to Indiana.’ “And so that is my feeling when I move out among the people on occasions of this character. I always go back to Indianapolis feeling that Indi

ana is a good enough place for me and is a good enough place for any man. Speaks From Fullness of Heart. “My friends, I am really delighted at this opportunity to address you briefly on this inspiring occasion. I am Interested in you for several reasons: lam interested in you because of the Wonderful things you have achieved. I am interested in you because of the splendid lessons you have set for those who are to follow you. I am interested in you, ah, I am grateful to you, because since 1 have Jiad Uie honor of filling ttie great office I now occupy, I have on "more than one occasion been impressed with your friendship and your loyalty to my administration. (Applause). 1 hope you understand'that I am speaking unselfishly to you when I make that observation. I know how easy

it is for a man to say pleasing things, and especially for one who is aspiring to something and he wants to have the good will of those to whom he is speaking. But I assure you of my unselfishness by assuring you that I never expect to seek another official position, and consequently I speak out of the fullness of my heart to you men and to you good W'omen who served these men so splendidly in the dark days of the sixties. Patriotism Starts In Quiet Pursuits. “I am interested in you, I say. because of the great lesson I think that you teach the younger generations on an occasion of this character. I cannot better give you to understand my feelings on that subject than to read a brief paragraph from the massage [I sent to the last general assembly.of the state of Indiana. “ ‘The patriotism displayed on th~ field of battle has its source in the quiet pursuits of life. The man who has been properly schooled in home duties and love of country will sacrifice more for his home and Country than will the man who has not been taught the sancity qf home and his obligations to his country. Therefore, money spent to inculcate principles of patriotism in the youth of our land is well spent. What more impressive lesson in love of country can bs afford ed the boys and girls of today than to permit them to witness the parades of the old boys in blue, under tab flag of their country and to the strains Df patriotic music? (Applause). The great majority of the members of the Srand Army of the Republic of Indt-

ana are men of limited financial ability. Many of them have no income beyond their pensions. Since I have been in the governor’s office I have seen these old soldiers on two occasions having to solicit money in person in order that they might be able to defray the expenses of their annual encampment. This is not as it should be. (Applause). The burdens of these encampments should be removed from the shoulders of these old patriots. Our state ofught to have sufficient appreciation of them and of the; wonderi'ul 1 essons the!r Cncamp-

ments. teach to be willing to pay a part of the expenses thereof. (Aj- ' plause). I therefore recommend that -you make an annual appropriation of SI,OOO to be paid by order of the governor, or Such part thereof as may in his judgment bo necessary, in meeting the expenses of the annual encampment of the Grand Army of the ! Republic of this state.’ (Applause). .. Has One More Opportunity.

“M.v friends, I am glad to say that that recommendation in part at least, was carried out. The SI,OOO was appropriated, and your proper officials have received it all. But I meant for that appropriation to be a continuing one from year to year. (Applause). It seems that it was not made such, but I have on,e more opportunity at one more legislature. (Applause). And I shall do what I can to have this sl,000 made a continuing appropriation for these encampments. (Applause). I think it is lust, because the wonderful lesson in patriotism these encampments teach our boys and our girls.

“I was glad to hear expressed the sentiments of the young man from New York, the head of the organization of the Sons of Veterans —his eloquently fine remarks touching the duties of citizens in which he outlined so beautifully your and my citizenly duties. We need to renew ourselves from time to time with lessons of this character. Sees Thousand Boys Salute Flag.

“I witnessed a thousand boys the other day marching under orders under the folds of the flag. They were boys who had to march at the command given them. They were in an institution where they had to obey orders, but those in charge of them were trying to impress upon them patriotic sentiments; trying to impress upon them the duty they owe to the flag of their country, and the significance of that flag. And so in the proper manner as they passed under its folds in going from their workship to the dining room, the flag was saluted. “When I came to talk to them briefly afterwards I said to them I wondered whether or not they fully understood the lesson that was meant to be taught them by having them to salute the flag. Then I told them as best I could something of the institutions of this country; something of the sacrifices that had to be made in order to achieve and preserve these institutions, and I said to them that every time the flag is saluted the matchless history of the republic should pass in review before the man that salutes it. (Applause).

Is Source of Patriotic Acts. It is out of lessons of this kind that you and I are prompted to do our citizenly duties in a patriotic way. It is lessons of this kind, out of the experiences that men like you have had, that prompt you and prompt me to endeavor by friendly word and otherwise to encourage and uphold the President of these United States in these trying times. (Applause). “I am glad to see tha.t thousands and thousands, yes millions, of men all over the country who do not share the political views of the present occupant of the White House are standing by him unflinchingly in the discharge of his arduous duties. (Applause). We ought to appreciate demonstrations of this kind and thank God for the noble men -of this nation. What nobler sentiments ever issued

from the lips of any man than those that passed the lips of that great/conservative and splendid American citizen a few days ago, ex-President William Howard Taft? (Applause). He didn’t pause to discuss tariff schedules or questions on which parties in this country divide when it was opportune for him to speak on the serious situation that confronts our president, and he lost no time in rushing to the president’s support by making a statement that encouraged him, endorsed him and bade him ‘God speed.’ (Applause). We would not miss the truth far, if at all, were we to declare that Wilson and' Taft, in the present international crisis, represent nobly the flower of our civilization. (Applause). Want to Take Lessons From Battles. “I cannot, and would not if I could, undertake to recite the experience you men have had in any particular battles. W 7 e simply want now' to catch the lessons from those battles and apply those lessons in onr every day lives. If your victory, soldier friends, meant anything beyond the immediate preservation of the republic when Lee surrendered his sword to Grant, it meant that in this country henceforth and forever, law and order should prevail. (Applahse). “When I accepted the nomination for governor, I used these wprds: ‘Personally I believe in obedience to law. In this I do not differ from the great majority of my countrymen. As a state, Indiana stands for law and order, and I want no man to support me for the great office I am seeking under the delusion that in the event of my success I shall stand for loose morals and the pon-enforcement of the law. The penal laws of the state should either be enforced or repealed.

If elected, It "win not Be my duty ta make law or to Interpret the laws except for my own official guidance, but I will have to taka an oath to take care that the laws bo faithfully executed, and that oath I will respect.’ (Applause). “That was the pledge I madeVthe people of this state when I accepted the nomination for their governorship. It is, for you to say how well I have kept) the faith, because if I have kept it, T have simply in a small way endeavored to make good what you heroes promised should be made good by Indiana. (Applause). People Must Hitch Up With Him.

“But, my friends, when it comes to the execution of the laws (I want you to get the force of this because I want you to become more active as lawabiding and law-enforcing citizens yourselves), when it comes to the execution of laws, the governor really can do but very little under the constitution and the laws of this state beyond moralizing on that subject, unless the people hitch up with him (applause); unless the people co-operate with him. All he can do is to point out what should bo done. All he can do is, when officials are failing to do their duty, to insist that they shall do their duty, and then it is for the people at homo to make it so hot for them that they can’t refuse to do their duty. (Applause).

“I have said on other occasions what I now want to repeat to you and this suggests the responsibility that rests upon you and me if we are going to expect the result of your victory to be a success. I have said and I now repeat that an honest and a competent judge, an honest and a competent prosecuting attorney, and an honest and a competent sheriff can enforce the law in any county in the state if they desire to enforce it. (Applause). . Our institutions, my countrymen, are all right. The pity is that in so many instances they are so much better than we are. The pity is that in so many instances we fail to live up to the standard we fix for ourselves. (Applause). Believes In Law and Order. “I believe in law and order and when the people decree that a certain thing shall be in this state, there shouldn’t be any debating of the question as to whether that thing shall be or not. The people are the rulers in Indiana and you fought that they might be the rulers of Indiana. “I believe in peace. I want peace to bless this land, as long as we can preserve peace without having to sacrifice honor. I want the people of this state to deliberate coolly ami calmly on the great crisis that is confronting our country now. How proud, how happy, we should be that we are enjoying the blessings of peace as we are, in view of the awful, awful tragedy taking place on the other side of the seas. It behooves us as a great nation and it is our duty as a state to make our contribution toward keeping the poise of this nation so fine, so well balanced, that we can be the most potent factor possible when the time comes to reconcile our brothers on the other side of the water to one another. Compliment to Soldiers Meant.

“I said, and if you read my statement you saw, I meant to compliment you soldiers in my Memorial proclamation, you were exercising an influence in steadying the citizenship of this country at this time on the awful situation confronting us. You have a wonderful influence. It behooves us all to exercise whatever influence we have rightfully. I have refused as governor to favor certain movements that have been put on foot in the east until these movements were suggested or approved by the president of the United States. You know and so do I that he is in possession of facts, and that he is familiar with the situation in a way that is not possible for us to be; and it is not wise for him to disclose at all times what he knows. Therefore, as long as he keeps calm and as long as he appeals to us to keep calm, I think it behooves us as good citizens, to follow the advice of the chief executive of our nation. Should Make It a Love Feast.

“My friends, th,e hour is growing late. I told my good friend, Crampton that I didn’t come here with any prepared talk and consequently I could cease talking to you at any time. I know that you are anxious to hear the able congressman, the Honorable Mr. Sherwood, - who has served his country long and well in congress and who has never failed to manifest a friendship for the soldiers. (Applause). I congratulate you upon this opportunity to hear him, and before taking my seat I want to congratulate all the associations, the different woman organizations, and the organization of the Sons of Veterans and the organization of the Spanish-Amer-ican soldiers for what they have done toward making this occasion a success. I want to congratulate them upon a disposition on their part to relieve you men who are .bowed with years from having to take care of these annual encampments. I think that these associate organizations, outside of lettfng | r ou fellows be bosses, if you will allow me to refer to you in that way, outside of allowing you to say how things shall be done that they should relieve you of all other responsibilities about making the arrangements for your encampment. Just make it a love feast for you old soldier boys who can come here without a single care and strike palms with one another and renew your friendships and pledge your faith in one another unto death. (Continued applause) .—The Mar Jon Chronicle.