The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-12-23

as ever having had, through any gen
GRAFTON whatsoever, connection with
any foreign land. He has given Of his
talents, which have been great, 10 al
public matters which should command
the intelligcn. interest Of all citizens,
and he has been a tireless worker for
his city and his state. His public rec
ord is one OF long usefulness and that
he would be called to higher and more
important service IL his health would
permit is the conviction Of thousands
Of Vermonters.
No one ever has thought of Joseph
DeBoer as a foreigner. He has been
completely assimilated, transformed
into an American Of the finest type,
which has been possible only because
he himself aided in the transforma-
ton. America 10 him is his country;
Vermont is his state. The needs Of
country and state have been his only
consideration in his attitude toward
public affairs; there never has been
any twilight zone when he was inter
preting events and deciding courses
with mind influenced by foreign con-
sideration or method of thought.
The writer recalls remark made
by Mr.. DeBoer at the 1915 banquet OF
the Vermont alumni of Dartmouth
College held in Montpelier last winter.
II was at the zine when the illness
which now threatens TO end fatally
was first making itself felt Mr.. De-
Boer, for the first Zine in many years,
was unable TO speak at the after-din-
ner exercises, which came as a shock
to those present, for he was what
might be called a fixture at all New
England Dartmouth gatherings.
But in private conversation Mr. De-
Boer was jovial as always and one
was all unmindful of the serious all
ment with which he was afflicted.
There was some talk of the European
war, and in his conversation, Mr.. De-
Boer made remark that gave his
comparative estimate of his native and
his adopted countries. Said he, "1f /
were back in Holland to-day, if | new
err had come to this country, | either
would be pitching fish off small fish
ing boat, or ! would be standing with
the reserves at the splendid salary of |
six cents a day instead CT enjoying an
evening with the sons of old Dart
Then he continued with his
views on America, its opportunity for
acknowledgment and service, in way
that commanded both admiration and
The career of Mr.. DeBoer demon
strates two things: What America can
do for the foreigner who comes TO our
shores with .he honorable and honest
purpose of becoming a true American,
and what such one in turn can do for
America. Mr.. DeBoer stands out as
example of this because
ne has made an exceptional success of
ife; but the same thing is going on
n a more humble way with tens of
thousands of others. But with some
,ur assimila.ing process has failed.
That is the disappointing, the threat
ming part of it. That we can assimil-
tic if we are given the opportunity we
ave proved, but unless man would
iecome one Of us in fact as well as in {
word, we cannot force Americanism '
lpon him. But wha. Mr.. DeBoer has {
lone is a splendid example and this
,hase of his career ought not to be
ost sight of at this time when deserv- c
d tributes for his other and more c
angible qualities are being paid. Hol-
and, the land of his birth, is a foreign .
.ate to Mr.. DeBoer. America is his I
ountry; there is no question Of al
sgiance involved, whatsoever-St
lhanG Mpcspnpor II