New-York tribune., 1907-11-19
GOOD CITIZENSHIP.
Defined By DR.. Johnson Before Fed.
Grafton Patriotic Committee.

citizenship IS not a natural attribute OF man,
but artificial product OF civilization" said DR..
patriotism Of the New York Federation OF Women $
Clubs at the Buckingham Hotel yesterday
afternoon. There could be citizenship until
there was an organized state. OF which men could
be citizens. and each state had right determine
who its citizens should be and what should be
their qualifications In the beginning Adam was
able truly to declare 'Letat cest mOiF He was
the only citizen, and probably ruled Eve with
club. In patrarChal times the head OF the family
supreme and the other members and servants
had rights which he bound to respect
When governments arose. whether monarchical or
democratic, conditions OF citizenship were imposed
Catholic countries disfranChised PrOtestantS and
Protestant countries disfranchised Catholics In
this country the national constitution prescribes
certain conditions of citizenship and the cOnstitu-
tions of the states add others Within the memory
Of many Of us this nation generally denied citizen
ship TO men of dark skins and woOlly hair. 10
still denies II TO men Of yellow skins and diagonal
" eyes CHASING along with the Chinese
unit To enjoy the full powers of citizenship in
the exercise of the franchise certain classes OF
criminals. imbecles and-women! II is in this de-
termination of the character of citizenship that
practically all progress in human government has
been achieved. Practically the same forms of gov
ernment which exist existed centuries ago.
supported by the arguments. denounced for
the same reasons. Nor has there been any material
change in the disposition of sovereigns Between
Alexander and Napoleon there difference OF
kind little of degree. And doubtless the early
republics of Greece and Rome had their rings, and
bosses and ballot box suffers. and fusions. and
reformers. and mugwumps, just as we have them
general character of the people and in their rela-
tonship TO the state-in brief, in the evolution OF
citizenship.
ITO be nj for American citizenship" Dr. John
son continued. "a man must believe in America and
must be resolved TO do his share. great or small.
toward maintaining the American Constitution and
fulfilling the destnies of the American nation. And
the proper destiny of this nation is 20 be not merely
big but great. The true ideal OF american destiny
is not to see how far we can carry and plant our
standards in the uttermost parts OF the EARTH but
20 see how significant we can make them of the
true welfare of humanity and of the true progress
OF the race. Our achievement is not TO be quantity
alone but quality. not merely to be big In bulk but
also to be great in spirit.
Il know very we'll that in quarters Ameri-
canism' is sneCred AT and the notion that there
should be anything distinctive and peculiar in
American citizenship is derided. But they who do
thus do not wisely. Every great nation that
existed had It's peculiar and distinctive ChaTac
teristcs. in citizenship and patriotism we'll as
I'm language religion and laws, and America too
is entitled to its Individuality This country is
not the result of chance growth. II founded
for specific purpose and on the basis of we'll de-
fined principles, ana 1t is the right and duty OF
every citizen Ii that that purpose is full
filled and that those principles maintained. Nor
let imagine that this is n composite nation in
blood and it's civilization must be composite
sort OF crazy patchwork of scraps and clippings
of laws and customs from the uttermOst ends OF
the earth; that adventurers 20 hither from
every land and graft their own notions and prac-
tces upon the body polite. until at length we shall
have a great tree bearing apples this branch
and plums that. thorns here and thstles yonder
America is no longer an experiment; IL is
achievement"
DR. Johnson protested against allowing "any one
and every one. without serious thought OF
preparation, 70 rush headlong into the delicate
tricate and unspeakably important work of guiding
the progress and determining the destinies of a
mighty empire" III with a great price men were
in old times eager 10 purchase the freedom of q
Roman citizen. is IL too mu6h.' he asked. "to de-
mand that for the freedom, and the rights and the
honor. and the almost infinite potentialties of
American citizenship they shall pay the price of
being virtuous intelligent and Industrious
In conclusion the lecturer said:
"'That nation will be strongest and most enduring
which learns most fully that the Kingdom OF God
cometh not through booms and deals and spread
eagle campaigns, nos nor through occasional spasms
of virtuous investigation and reform. but through
the steady and general and incessant forward
searching of the people toward that type public
and of private manhood which bears the impress OF
the form divine. Liberty. equality. fraternity are
fitting motto for the republic. But in Gods name
let not. in our equalzlng process bring citizen
ship down TO the level OF the lowest but lift ii up
to the level of the highest. aud make American
citizenship the wisest the purest and the best
zenship in all the world. Let us raise up a stand
ard to which the wise and honest may repair. The
event is in the hands of God"