The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-03
"IYPHENATED AMERICANS,


The recent meeting in Detroit of those call
ing themselves German-American citizens to
protest against an Anglo-American alliance.
of which there has never been the slightest
possibility and against the policy of acquir-
ing distant territorial possessions, called
forth from Captain Coghlan, while in Terre
Haute, a harsh criticism upon what he was
pleased to characterize as "hyphenated
Americans" "If a man is an American citi-
zen he is an American citizen pure and sim
ple,' said the naval captain. 1t would be
well IL this were so; and being an American
citizen is to most Of us, so much better
than anything and everything else, that 1t
seems IL ought to be so. 1t would not be of
much cons equence. however. if there were
not reason TO suspect that there is some
thing in the further statement Of Captain
Coghlan that There is nothing that Europe
would rather see to-day than the existence
Of factional lines in our citizenship" If
there were danger that, in the event of Sc
rious disagreement with any of the govern
ments of Europe naturalzed citizens who
were born under those governments might
were natives, there should be serious objec-
ton to hyphenated citizenship. There is
reason, however. to believe that such a sem
timent does not exist. A few years ago
there was such a difference between the
United States and Germany that the posi-
bility of war was suggested. In localities
the question was raised as to the attitude
citizens of German blond would acSt1rua IN
the event of rupture. There was but one
answer: I'VE are citizens of the United
States" The Characterization meetings
which have been held in several cities were
to protest against an alliance with Great
Britain, which those holding such opinion
believed to be hostile movement of the lat
ter against Germany. Such protest cannot
be considered as evidence of divided allie
glance. but desire that the country in
which those making the protest were born
and with which they are connected by fam
lily ties shall not be mistreated
1t Is not in our relations with other ma
tions that the so-called hyphenated citizen
ship can be mischievous, but in our domes-
tic affairs. So long it Is deemed essential
to party success in cities that men Of Ger
man, Irish. or Swedish blood and names
shall be nominated for office to win the votes
Of citizens of such foreign extraction, the
hyphenated Americans will exist in name
and the distinctions which they indicate will
be kept alive. That such distinctions exist
is rather the fault of local party leaders
than Of the men to whom they are applied.
But, even if it were true that citizens of
foreign birth or extraction desire to keep
alive the hyphenated citizenship, 1t does
not lie with those who take pride in applying
the term Anglo-Saxon to the American peo-
pie and their institutions to bring the charge
of divided allegiance. Those who call them
selves German or Irish Swedish Ameri-
cans do not claim to be the whole American
people. as do those who assert that the
United States is an Anglo-Saxon nation, and
thus ignore the contributions which other
European races have made to what is dis
tinctively American civilization If those
who use the terms German-American and
the like are blameworthy, what measure of
blame should be attached to those who at
tribute to Anglo-Saxon origin rather than
to American development all the virtue We
possess as a nation?
1t would be we'll to get rid of the hyphen
In connection with citizenship, whether Ger
man or Irish or Anglo-Saxon. The Ameri-
can, we have a right to believe, embraces
all that is best in the fusing of races which
make TIE American people of to-day Amer
lean pure and simple is more significant and
more honorable than American with a prefix.
The fourth-Of-July orator who has not yet
put the finishing touches upon the address
Of tomorrow can wisely devote few
welI-rounded sentences to prove that the
term American citizen, without prefix, annex
or hyphen, embraces all that is good and
desirable. and IS the best of all through the
process of evolution.