The record-union., 1891-03-20
DIVIDED AMERICANIsM AN OF
TENSE.


still goes up. The people who are self
respecting and patriotic are becoming
heartily weary of this thing. Next to the
New Orleans atrocity is the ofIense ofpre-
tended Americans-but who are such only
in name as they confess by their actions
in appealing to a foreign power to make
demands upon their adopted country. In
this matter we are not ut all considering
the disgrace of mob violence at New Or
leans, or condoning the acts of the people
in overthrowing the law and substituting
force and passion for it, But we are con-
sidering that alarming and exasperating
evil, divided Americanism, the American
ism that prefixes its title with a foreign
designation. We have repeatedly entered
protest against these subdivided desig-
nations of citizenship. There are but two
classes Of people in the Union, exclusive
Of the Indians-Americans and aliens.
We cannot too emphatically condemn the
action of a mass-meeting of italian sub
jects and American citizens in San Fran
cisco on Tuesday night, by which a direct
appeal was made to the Italian Govern
ment, and to certain Princes and titled
functionaries of that country, to proceed
in a certain manner against this Govern
ment. In the San Francisco Alta Cali
fo,7,id of yesterday we find a letter upon
such action, written by an adopted citizen
of Italian nativity, which so reflects our
views upon this question of divided alle-
glance, that we quote literally from it,
and commend with emphasis the fine
spirit of its protest. The writer says:
find what purports to be translation of n
call for meeting of " Italo-Americans TO
take action with reference to the recent events
In New Orleans. In that translation appears
the intercesson of the Governments of our
native and adopted land, In order that through
diplomatic action full satisfaction be given
aud full reparation made by the State of Louis
lana and by the Federal Government at Wask-
ington." This is an error. The words In italics
do not appear In the call us IL is printed and
issued in the Italian language What does an
pear there is: 1--WE must invite the interces-
sion of the Government OF our aatire lund,r
ETC., without any reference to our adopted
land.
As a law-abding man. irrespective of the
question of birth or citizenship, / have no
sympathy with mob violence, but have still
less sympathy with men who, having re-
nounced their allegiance to the Government
of the land of their birth, and sworn allegiance
to the Government of this country now for
swear that allegiance which they voluntarily
assumed by appealing to the Government OF
the land OF their birth against the land of their
adoption. Looking over the list of thirty
names signed TO this call for a public meeting,
lx.,in I Et,nx
sonally to be American citizens. An appeal
by them to the Government of Italy is an
appeal TO foreign power, and to the partieu-
lar foreign power whose allegiance they especi-
ally renounced when they became citizens.
The Government of this country Is remark
ably liberal in its treatment OF political
ofienses, but the act OF these naturalized Ital-
ians Is, none the less, morally treason to the
land of their adoption, although the law is SO
merclful that they may not be liable TO pun
In this call for meeting find, also the
following: Therefore we, the undersigned.
relying upon our rights as Italo-Amerfcans,
recognize such right us the right of an
"itaio-American." Italians by birth resident
in this country, are either Italians or Ameri-
cans-ltalians If they have never assumed
the duties and privileges of American citizen
ship, Americans If they have. In the former
case they have the rights conceded to Ital-
ianS resident In this country by treaty with
Italy; In the latter they have the rights of
American citizens, and no other, and these
rights do not include the right To ask the in
tervention OF q foreign country against the
Government of the United States, or against
the people of the United States, or of any sec
tion thereof. Therefore l recognize no such
right as the right of an "Italo-Americann
The combination is n monstrosity devised by
thoughtless men, who, having renounced
their allegiance to their native land, now for
swear the allegiance they swore TO the land Of
their adoption. write this because | want
the people 10 know that there are some Ital-
ans here tfor am not alone in my views by
any meansl who fully understand the duty
they owe TO the country which has afforded
US its hospitality.
This ought to be the thought and ex-
preston of every adopted citizen. If his
adoption has not given him a true
idea of what citizenship means; if his
allegiance has reservation; if his oath was
premeditatedly false, and if he considers
his native land still entitled to the highest
measure of duty, he is out of place,
cheat and menace to the republic. If
continues to voice the spirit of divided
Americanism, he will invoke a policy
that viii make his class impossible.