It is this two-sous-per-day army that is our hope of to-morrow. It is
primarily upon its efficient valor that the future of democracy depends.
For it is they, rather than the parents, especially in the great cities
and in communities of large foreign elements, who have its making in their
hands. Without them the nation of to-morrow would be defenseless. She
would have to increase her standing army of soldiers, and even then, with
the multitudes of individual ignorances, malices, selfishnesses growing in
her own valleys and being disembarked by millions at her ports, she would
be powerless to defend her ideals.
One whom I have already quoted as speaking so disparagingly of Chicago
said that the most touching sight he saw in America was the marching of
the phalanxes of the nation of to-morrow past one of the generals or
colonels of that standing army of teachers. It was not in Chicago, but it
might have been. This particular phalanx had not been in America long.
They were singing "Sweet Land of Liberty" as they marched, swishing their
flags, and then they paused and repeated in broken speech:
"Flag of our great republic, inspirer in battle, guardian of our homes,
whose stars and stripes stand for bravery, purity, truth, and union, we
salute thee! We, the natives of distant lands who find rest under thy
folds, do pledge our hearts, our lives, and our sacred honor to love and
protect thee, our country, and the liberty of the American people
forever.
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