The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-09-25


- " Work. Austin Blcrbower
" sets down the principles
M that underlie American
M al citizenship, which, he says
differs In several essentials
from citizenship in other countries
and some peculiar duties arise from
the difference which require special at
tcntion now when our institutions are
receiving general re-eXamlnatlon ana
are subjected TO special strain through
the attempt ut expansion.
An American. having a great coun'
try. has wide relations In his patriot
ism. lie loves something great. which
is important In the character OF
people. when a man must fix his at
fectlons on the small It tends TO be-
little him. CAe Is measured by what
one loves. with our vast and opulent
domain. we need never be ashamed OF
the object OF our affection, but can be
enthusiastic Tor our country without
seeming ridiculous; which n Belgian
or Portuguese can hardly be.
The first characteristic OF American
citizenship Is a confident pride OF coun-
try that goes parallel with love or
country. a pride that Is well founded
and honest; so that an American feels
n satisfactory sclf.respect az an Amer
lean. and seldom gets anything but re-
spect from others. lie cannot be easily
ridlculcd. ana he need not be sensitive
about foreign opinions. A scoffcr who
would laugh nt the United states Ia
like the slmplcton who would rldicule
the sun. Owing to our size. we are
not often challenged 10 fight for our
country. even IN words, for most an
tagonlsts seem unworthy OF MS. only
three or four nations are ever COM
pared with ours. and we need not fear
the comparison then. The American
can accordingly indulge generous
\ high.mlndcdncss toward the world
without the usual temptations 60 jeul-
ousy which characterize small peoples.
A second feature OF American citizen
ship springs from the fact that we
are n growing country. Great as we
are, we expect 10 be greater. our eyes
are turned TO the future and our pride
IL founded on hope. II matters much
whether one Is on the rising or de-
clining side In his feelings, whether
his enthusiasm is a swelling or re-
cedlng tide. Americans are In the line
OF the worlds movements. going In the
direction In which things are enlarg'
ing. Our country Ia TO take part in
nearly all events that are TO come
and TO act with the whole world as m
arena. We have career before ui
rather than behind us. and enter or
bnttleGelds yet TO be won. We are II
the line OF permanent movements, too
and not OF mere episodes. Our act
must have an influence that Is 20 grow
with the enlargement OF the countr!
and OF the worlds civilization; 40 tina
In making history, we are not building
fabric that Is soon TO fail. but on
that win grow FOR centuries.
A third feature OF American citl
zcnshlp results from the fact that on
country represents liberty and equal
fly, 80 that In being proud OF our cOun
try we are proud OF something good
In taking up the cause OF the Unite
States one takes up the cause OF right
Most countries represent tyranny o
some form OF inequality, so that thel
citizens. 10 be patriotic, must be I'M
just. In Europe they are committee
to the interests OF the Bourbons 0
the Hapsburgs. and stand for the al
grandlzement OF privileged CLASSES
We stand for the equal rights OF al
the people; and nothing can be better
Amerlcanlsm ia n sum OF virtue,
standing for a principle. Our flag In
n meaning OF which we approve. II
demorallzing when ones national sent
ments are In conflict with ones prlvat
convictions. The liberals Of most fol
elgn countries are disaffected towar
their national institutions, so that man
OF their best citizens live not In N
spirit Of their country. but In hope q
: revolution. In America. on the othC
hand. loyalty Is n virtue; the good ar
committed to our institutions; and I
he more OF an American Is to be
better man.
Another circumstance affecting Anne
lean citizenship Is the fact that Or
country represents progress. The tn
dltlons Of our fathers have little welgl
when pltted against our common sens
The worlds best Ideas have n chanC
to be put into practice. Thought an
activity are alike free. Old machll
cry, old opinions, old institutions AZ
constantly passing away. and We NJ
In a country OF revision. American
are accordingly independent ana al
: gresslve. Instead OF being a led PEE
pie, chained TO precedent, they scare
r for the unknown, rather than try
: recall the forgotten.
The first duty OF American cltlzei
: ship is a liberal patriotism. Nor is tn
+ feeling OF magnanimlty for land an
numbers alone. American patriotism
must be love not Of race but OF man
kinds Of people-of English, German
, Italians, Irish, Scandlnaylans. Afr
cans. Chinese, Indians and Tngals.
must be cosmopolitan. American pi
trlotlsm comes near being human
a tarlanism.
}. A more immediate duty OF America
, citizenship, and one appealing direct