The Cordova daily times., 1915-06-17
THE DISAPPEARING HYPHEN

How true 1t that it takes great national crisis or something that for the moment bears the look of crsis-to show the world what nation is The dis appearing 'hyphen" furnishes splenddy instructive case Tn point For many mOnths-almost, in fact, since the war broke Out-our citizens of German birth or percentage have been strong not to say fiery their pro- testaons of affection for the Fatherand and of their convictions that the of the Kaiser the of justice and right Sometimes these statements whether as speeches interviews letters editorials have gone bit beyond the line that the great bulk of Ameri can citizens have thought proper They have seemed to take sides with Germany against the President of the United States, and that has been very serious indeed Some few who did not understand the Germans under lying stability have called their loyalty into question 1t has been than hinted that high authorities in Germany have deuded themselves into thinking that the dermans Ill America might even go so far as to revolt against the constituted authority in of hostitites between Germany and the United States.
 How vain that delusion, how absolutely baseless all such thoughts, how unjust to think that these adopted children of great republic any less saunch and true in their devotion than others to the land that has held out its hand when they decided to leave their countryal has been made clear in the winkling of an eye.
 The influence that caused the disappearance of the hyphen tragedy- often is the case that tragedy brings out great virtues When the Lusitana was sunk and the President of the American republic sent his firm protest to Germany the hyphen vanished Not that all the American citizens of German blood were less con vinced that Germany's cause was just as between Germany and the allies but that they were quick to proclaim that in any case, the United States was their United States, and that if there any fighting to be done they would do it for the Stars and Stripes
 At meeting of new citizens in Philadelphia the other day stout old Mayor Blankenburg a man of German brth thus spoke to his audience and to the world: "l getting old, but not too old to fight in defense of the flag necessary Native or naturazed must be unit for there is more beautiful emblem in all the world than the dear old Stars and Stripes And on the same platform Colonel Andrew Cowan who commanded the famous COwan's battery that held the
 Bloody Ange' at Gettysburg told the audience that the mayor not German American any more than he, Cowan, was Scotch-Amercan. ''We are Ameri- cans he said " and should war be forced upon us by Kaiser King any other power, would willingly give our lives for lives for the United States With one heart one hand, united underd one hag''
 Who doubts that such spirit as that fills the hearts of all citizens from other lands matter whats In times like these there is no hyphen any more.
 Fifty years ago today there passed in review before the president of the United States at Washington the sec ond part of the great armies of the republic The war over the flag safe. Today the review is one of spirit but there may be imagined passing by the Pres dent the grand army of citizens of the United States Americans a loyal to the and ready for any event that may test their pride and their love for their country and the emblem of their liberty.