TEXT
"Citizenship"
I plead for a patriotism in peace as well as in war. Let us
have not nearly that patriotism born of extremities which burns in
the souls of men only when their country is in danger, but the
patriotism of good citizenship in low places and in high places, in
season and out of season. Let us have the patriotism which moves
men to make their country's welfare their own business, and in
prosaic times of peace, interest themselves continually in the
politics of their communities. Good government is certain in no
other way.
What we need in this country is not less politics, but more
attention to politics. There must be two great political parties,
and both should be strong and viral. If a political party does not
stand for those things which will bear the severest scrutiny, it is
not entitled to succeed and it will not endure. Let the political
parties determine their acts solely by how they can contribute most
to the country's good and let the individual membership give that
attention to their party's affairs which is due the only instrument
through which all individuals can apply their patriotism. There is
no zone of twilight in politics. Right is right and wrong is
wrong, and the same strict standard of righteous conduct must
obtain as in any private business or professional matter. With our
politics entirely on this basis, living our patriotism daily, we
will do a citizen's full duty and not until then.
I have no use for the individual who is too busy to take part
in politics. He has no just complaint to make. Whatever happens
he is riding on another person's ticket. It is passing strange
than men have to be urged to exercise the first privilege of a
sovereign citizenship -- the right to help govern themselves. For
this right this nation was founded, for this right the Union was
preserved, for this right patriots have labored since the
foundation of the republic, and that this right might be for all
men everywhere we fought in France and drenched the plains of
Europe with our blood.
Unless there is an awakened sense of civic duty, as the
glorified result of our experience of fire and blood, we have lost
the most important lesson of this war. Hundreds of thousands of
men and women arose in the spirit of consecrated service and
unselfishly carried the burden of war-works at home and abroad. I
urge that this army of patriots now realize that they have a duty
in peace as well in war. That the nation needs their continuing
devotion, and that they owe this continuing service to their
country's welfare. We are the freest government in the world, but
our strength rests totally in that patriotism which moves us
everyday to discharge the debt we owe this nation by making and
keeping conditions right in this country.
The Republican party is the party of the future. It was born
of a national necessity and from that hour has been a party of
patriotism, with its loyalty measured only by the possibilities.
And now with our eyes solely on the country's welfare, we will
measure our steps forward by the new needs of the nation,
continuing to be the instrument to apply to changing conditions the
wisdom of experience and the efficacy of an honest, zealous
servant. With a determination for an execution consistent with our
record, squaring our performances with our promises, we will
proceed to the fulfillment of the party's mission. God helping it
shall be accomplished.
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