The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-09-03
LET US ALL BE AMERICANS

LET US ALL BE AMERICANS
In timely warning issued to the people of
the United States by President Wilson (Which in
cludes all of us) against that deepest, most SUBTLE
most essential breach of neutrality, which may
spring out of partisanship, out of passionatey
taking sides, the Duluth Herald says:
AS the people of this country are drawn
from many nations, and chiefly from the nations
now at war, it is natural that they should differ
in sympathy with regard to the issues of the great
conflict that is raging. But however much they
may differ, it is of supreme Importance that
passion shall not be excited and the people
not divided into hostile camps. In other words,
all should remember that they are AMERICANS.
They should be AMERICANS first, last and all
the time French Americans, or English
Americans, German Americans, or Russian
Americans, Austrian Americans. While many
of them were born in the countries at war,
and many others are the and daughters of
fathers and mothers who were natives of those
lands-while their sympathies for this reason may
be with one or the other of the nations engaged in
the greatest warfare of the worlds history-they
must not forget that they are all citizens of the
United States-that they live under the folds of
the Stars and Strpes-are all members of the one
state, with the reciprocal right to the enjoyment
of the privileges and protection flowing from that
citizenship.
1T is necessary that the United States be neu-
trail in fact as we'll as in name. As President
Wilson we'll says: We must be impartial in
thought we'll as in action, must put curb upon
sentiments we'll as upon every transaction
that might be construed preference of one
party to the struggle before another The presi-
dent has rendered his good Offices to the countries
engaged in war, with view to securing the restOr-
alton of peace by arbitrating the differences which
gave rise to the conflict. AS the head of the
American republic, he speaks on behalf of the
American people in making this proffer of media
ton. The United States, the great nation
at peace stands in peculiarly favorable position
to play part of impartial mediation but if the
people who compose this republic become en-
broied with the passions of the Old World con-
fct and are divided into bitterly hostile camps of
divergent opinions, the President, who is their
representative and spokesman, will find it difficult
to make the belgerent nations believe that he is
speaking the cOunses of peace and accommoda-
ton, not as partisan, but friend
1t is time to exercise self control and re-
straint. to be cool and dispassonate time to
forget that we our fathers came from England
or France, or Germany, or Austria, or Belgium.
or Russia or any other Old World country-a
time to remember only that we are AMERICANS"
WHEN books were rare and COSTLY appreciated
by few, and read by still fewer, they were care
fully treasured up. The family library was care
fully collected and steadfastly added to. 1t was
passed along by Inheritance or bequest and if per-
chance it had to be divided up or scattered.
caused widespread regret.
1t would be supposed that the diffusion of edu
cation and learning and the cheapening of books.
making it possible for almost every one to acquire
library of his own, would stimulate the habit of
treasurlng books to greater extent than ever
There are good grounds, however, for doubling
that this has been the effect, for while people in
general have more books, in most cases they place
particular store by them. The books are not
of the permanent kind; the first perusa is the last
and after one reading around the family circle no
one cares what becomes of them. The solid, sub
stantial books the smaller part of the present
day library. The old close, familiar companion
ship people used to find in books which led them
to- <Of ho,, o,,l Al.