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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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