Hartford Public High School - Classbook Yearbook (Hartford, CT)

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THE CHRONICLE 269 not feel a spirit of admiration and devotion? XYhat man is there who, realizing what this country means to him, and opening his eyes to the fact that it is lziis, his own country, does not experience a great feeling of pride? And as it is today, so has it been through the ages. And patriotism will remain as long as nations endure, and human nature remains unchanged. But what is true patriotism? Is it necessary for a man to be a fanatic to show his appreciation? The days of the riotous Fourth of july are gone, conservatism is slowly displacing all forms of radi- calism. And the present radical form of patriotism must also be remodelled. Free speech is the inherent right of every man. Consequently a man's right to criticize cannot be taken away from him. A govern- ment is not a sacred, inviolable institution. It will always make its share of mistakes. And it will always be censured for them by in- dividuals. But in these days of strenuous times, a mistake is more than a mere superiiciality. A single blunder may precipitate us into a disastrous and unnecessary war. And the man who criticizes the seemingly omnipotent government at such a time is often open to condemnation. And that is wherein our present-day patriotism fails. For if a man is absolutely convinced that the nation's policy is of a certainty wrong, no earthly power, much less mere love of country, could convince him to the contrary. Burke criticized England, boldly and openly, for her policy in regard to the colonies. VVas Burke less an Englishman for it? John Redmond condemns those Irish who precipitated the recent revolution in Dublin. Is he less the Irishman for it? Theodore Roosevelt can find no word too strong to condemn the administrations policy in regard to Mexico. Is he less an American because of it? But let an ordinary citizen go out into the street. Let him say, for instance. that he believes the United States to be at fault in the submarine issue. Let him say that to go to war on such an issue would be against the dictates of his conscience-of his instinct of right and wrong-and he is hooted and scorned and called a traitor! And in that attitude of narrow-mindedness lies the false patriotism. When a blind mob spirit pervades our people, controls our press, overpowers our entire country-when the government is considered irreproachable-when the people look toward VVashington and say, The king can do no

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270 THE CHRONICLE wrong -then the true patriotism of our fathers gives way to a blind, unreasoning faith. Edmund Burke took his stand because he knew he was right, so does Redmond and so does Roosevelt. Others may differ, but worlds could not change their Opinions. And a man who firmly be- lieves in his policy is justified in it, whether it be true or false. Sin- cerity is one of the greatest assets a man may possess. And in the same justifiable position as Burke and Redmond and Roosevelt must we place the ordinary citizen who has the courage of his convictions and is not afraid to assert himself. This is not a defense of the hy- phen. neither is it a condemnation of the administration's policy: but it is simply a defense of the man who believes he is right and is not afraid to say so. Of special importance is this to us, the members of the graduating class. Hitherto we have been content to merely watch the affairs of government. Now we are soon to take a more active part in their administration. Let us realize what a wonderful thing is love of country. Let us realize what a powerful sentiment is the instinct of right and wrong, and may we open our eyes to the fact that only in the combination of the two do we find the real solution. Therefore-not a blind, narrow-minded faith, not an unreasonable condemnation, but- My country, right or wrong, if right to be kept right, but if wrong, to be set right. And therein lies what cannot fail to be the means of a true fat1'z'm'is1n. VVALTER LYON KATZENSTEIN. ESSAY COURSES NOT IN THE CATALOGUE 66-1' GE looks backwardg Youth, forward, it is said. If this be true, what an aged gathering we must be today, for I am sure our thoughts are wandering back through our four years' course. Perhaps we are asking ourselves what it has all amounted to? What of value have we gained? We have studied history. mathematics, languages, sciences, and many other subjects,