The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
AMERICA FOR AMERICANS.
But for Good Americans of All Fxtraotious
Provided They Let the Hyphen Go.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Your
editorial article OF to-day on Americana and
Hyphens" and the letter OF "Ignoramus"
therein contained seemed to me to so to ths root
OF the matter under immediate discussion and
to be most suggestive for students OF our for
eign affairs The trouble with our hyphen-
ated citizens OF all classes is that they are I'M
duly swayed by sentiment. sentiment quite
lacking in patriotism and perspcacity.
The silly "Anglo-Saxon-A American" who
plumes himself Oh the fact that his ancestors
lived in this country century ago. and for
that reason prctendS to q superiority over his
neighhor who came here from Ireland or tho
Continent. Is simply snob. His claims usual
" meet with mertRd contempt. He Is, 81
course. invariably allied with those illogical
sentimentaists who proclaim that the fact OF
common language. literature and Jurispru-
Gcnce puts US under eternal obligation to
England. These persons. carried away by
sentimental admiration for all things English.
would he pleased to see us bound to the
mother country by an alliance offensive and
defensive. without regard to the burdens
and difficulties imposed on us thereby. Com
mon sense apparently. finds no place with this
silly sentimcntalism.
At the other extreme are the so-called Irish
Americans and German Americans. whose
sentimental attachment to their fatherland
makes tnpm apparently obvious 10 tHe WEI
fare ri their adopted country;
believe in an American policy that viii con-
American prosperity. American glory. | DO
not believe in nati9 INA tnG0 OaSG ; on SENT
us to fly to the support % that ov"rhu rdened
monarchy because. forsooth. We read Shake
spcare and Kiplng without the aid 81 trans
lator | scorn his advice. And when some
widowed Fenian or exratriated German de;
nonnces. Joint action, OF the American and
! because the English once aided the Confederate
| The fact is that mere sentiment should have
no place In nternnntiona affairs at all. Probity
/ should have the first place and neXtto that
keen. clear-sighted regard for. selt-tnterest.
! lnntc or on the coasts OF Asia. we are not 70 be
| guided by tho attitude OF France IN ~ or
| tho attitude OF England and Russia during the
/ civil war. bat we are to be guided by the att.
ENGLAND stands ready to help us in the vital
! problem OF Asiatic trade-nnd does not drive
! too hard a hargainIwe Will not revive me
| hatreds Of lSl2nr debate agrarian REFORMS IN
der a q,nd pro quo. II Germany shows a
| like spirit OF fairness and good will We
viii accord her similar treatment, On the
other hand. II France or Germhhny dlsp,nys,
claims and privileges OF American citizens
! abroad no appeal to the memory OF LAFAYETTE
| and Steuben will avail To- turn our cnmty.
SO, in all our foreign relatlonS, iet or Wmtch-
Americans we mean every honest citizen OF
| whatever extraction who marches under tho
I Rgis OF America. not merely the real things y
Of whom iGH"ramgiI r Mr onv hvphe E
| citizen, he he OF English Irish or German par
! entaGe tries to pattern our foreign policy to
accord with his imported prelndirHs; s,,>,
II ,rrropD conn lima oS