The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-19
Encourage Broader Patriotism.

Encourage Broader Patriotism.
The Willles-Barre Leader asks what
the following extract from a recent
Tribune editorial
The fact that somewhat more than
three-fourths of the entire population of
Scranton are only one generation removed
from necessarily different oldworld con-
ditions makes doubly urgent the upbulld-
ing of n strong sentiment of patriotism,
perhaps even more manifest and emphatic
than would be requisite were our citizens
long grounded in American traditions.
The Tribune takes no stock in proscript-
i've orders or agencies that would excite
sectaran strife. 1t appeals, without bias,
to its readers, native born and natural
lied, to cooperate in the strengthening of
all honest and worthy patriotic influences
to put our friends Of foreign parentage in
unison with American conditions and in
stltutions.
Our contemporary must be singularly
obtuse if 1t cannot understand the fore
going. The meaning Of it is not hid
den. 1t means, among other things,
that good Americans, whether native
or naturalized, should strengthen the
public and private school systems
wherein the sons and daughters of
Americans born of foreign parents are
receiving their daily education. 1t
means. to give one local illustration,
that they should reinforce efforts like
those of Rev. Richard Aust in this city,
who in the Polish schools under his
charge is teaching the American Ian
guage, American history and reverence
for American institutions-in other
words, is fitting the children of those
who do not speak English to take a
creditable and progressive part in the
civic activities of the near future. 1t
means, too, that when the sons and
daughters of naturalized citizens do
not attend school and do not fit them
selves for an intelligent part in the
government of their parents adopted
country, virile efforts should be put
forth to give them the advantages of
our free educational institutions, state,
parochial or private. The Leader thinks
that:
There is good deal Of the verest rot in
dulged in by many of our writer's and
speakers when they get on this subject OF
patriotism and our foreign population, So
called. We are all, so to speak, foreign
ers of yesterday. 1t is very questionable
whether those who can 90 back through
two generations of ancestors, without find
ing more or less inter-miXture Of foreign
bloods land precious few can do even
thaD, are any more patriotic, In any
proper sense of the word, than those who
come direct from foreign parentage, or
most of those who are themselves of for
eign birth. In fact there is a something
in having been born under foreign flag
followed by n coming under ours and the
requirement of the additional privileges
the change confers, and by n voluntary
reputation of "any foreign government,
prince or potentate" as a means of secur-
ing the rights of American citizenship,
that should, and unquestionably often
does, produce far more genuine article
of patriotism than is shown in the aver
age native born of native parentage.
The one is an American citizen by choice,
deliberately made after he has attained
years of discretion. The other is such by
mere accident of birth. The lessons In
patriotism of which we stand in greatest
need are such as will teach all our citi-
| zens, native born and foreign born, that
| this is n government for all the people,
and not a mere means of subscribing the
interests Of the few at the cost of the
many.
We are not discussing this point. We
are not hurting stones at persons of
| foreign birth. Neither are we indulging
in what our neighbor somewhat ineptly
| calls rot" A journal like the Leader,
which assumes to speak intelligently
| for an Intelligent constituency, should
not put itself in the unnatural position
Of seeming to excuse illiteracy or to
discourage rational and broad-gauged
efforts toward the development in this
community of a more thorough patriot
| ism. 1t knows, in its own heart, that
the anthracite regions do not compare
favorably, with respect to law-ob-
servance, general morality and uplift.
ing tendencies, with the average com
munity in this country. Whatever the
fault or whatever the weakness
whether among Americans Of five gen.
erations or of only one generation--that
fault and that weakness call for correc.
tion. The Leader should be above play.
ing the demagogue or trying to tickle
the fancy Of the galleries with cheaI
flattery.