The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-29
AMERICAN CITIZENS.
The same whether Native or Adopted.
Their sympathy and Duties Are Here.

TO THE EDITOR or THE SUN--Sir! The
naturalized American citizen should be
cautious In his words ana actions re-
speeding the great conflict OF nations now
raging In Europe. He should be mind
ful of his remuneration of allegiance 10
his native country and his assumption OF
obligations OF fcalty to the United states
vt America. True performance Of these
obligations preclude his participation In
martial AFFAIR." af his former land. our
naturalized citizens, for countless reasons.
have voluntarily embraced privileges Of
citizenship and chosen to dwell and toll
I'm this land OF the free They have given
up, or have professed and are deemed to
have given up. all ties of former Govern
mcnts, and the concern OF their adopted
country Is or should be their whole aim.
The present time Is not one TO mince
words. II any Of the hundreds OF thou
sands OF foreign born citizens OF this
country feel that the ties OF their respec-
tive native lands compel them to speak
and act beyond the tenor OF any govern
mental policy as regards our foreign rela-
lions, or even to hover about the border
line OF diplomacy concerning matters OF
state. they should seriously reflect upon
the Influence their conduct Is likely TO
have upon others they should pause be-
fore jumping into the lmeIisht OF pub
licity they should hesitate before stirring
up sentiment for or against any of the
warning factions abroad they should be
slow to criticlse the freedom OF the press.
This especially applies to those OF them
gifted by attachments which the oppor-
tunitics of this land have afforded They
should bear in mind that others less
blessed with reason or knowledge are
very apt TO fall into acts OF lndiscretion
and to forget that the nations now at
war are equally entitled 10 hospitality
OF thought, kind consideration and re-
spect from each and every citizen Of this
land. which to-day stands neutral A
neutral nation and rs citizens or subjects
owe these ordinary things to foreigners .
but II cannot. and they should not, allow
It's opportunities. It's facilities or its
privileges to be used IN any sense as Il
base NJ aiding or abettiny war or even
war sentiment
II Is true that overzealous efforts to
avoid breaches OF neutrality may lead
into unneutral conduct. yet as citizens OF
this glorious land we should stop and re-
fleet that the possibility OF the United
States being drawn into this impending
world conflict is no less an idle dream
than was the present condition OF Europe
six weeks ago.
Public assemblies in times like the
present are dangerous especially when
the object be to sympathizc with one 1r
the other OF the warning nations. We
all sneak think and act according to our
knowledge The better founded our
knowledge the more apt are We to speak,
think and act Alright. our knowledge to-
day of facts AZ regards actuaiities in
European war matters, Of the conduct OF
the real combatants, OF the edicts and
doings OF the heads Of the several Gov
rrnments In their respective policies OF
the war, is at best but mcagre and more
or less censored or biassed. and we do
wrong when We jump to hasty conclu-
slons. especially when Influenced by ties
Or memories ~ kiushp which have been
famed into imaginary visions of wrongs.
Let us remember once and for all We
are American citizens No matter what
our sympithles, our duties lie here.
WILLIAM +. RASpEI.
NEW YORK, August 2s.