The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-07

under Our generous naturalization
laws to the full freedom and OPP
DortuIity of America. who have
poured the poison of disIOyaity
into the very arteries of our ma
tionaI life; who have sought TO
bring the authority and good
name of our government into con-
feupt to destroy our industries
wherever they thought IL cffec-
tive for their vindictivc purposes
to strike at them, and to dcbaSe
our politics to the uses of foreign
intrigue. Their number Is not
great as compared with the
whole number of those sturdy
hosts by which our nation has
been enriched in recent genera
tions out of virilc foreign stocks;
but it is great enough to have
brought deep disgrace upon us
and to have made il necessary
that VIC should promptly make
use of processes of law by which
we may be purgcd of their cor
rupt distcmpcrs. America never
witnessed anything like this be-
fore. 1t never dreamed IL posi-
bic that men sworn into its own
citizenship, men drawn out OF
great free stocks such as supplied
some of the best and strongest
clements of that little, but now
heroic, nation that in a high day
of old stakcd its very life to free
itself from every cntangicmcnt
that had darkcncd the fortunes OF
the older nations ana set up u new
standard hcrc.-that men OF sucn
origins and such free choices of
allegiance would ever turn In
malign reaction against the gov
crnmcnt and people who had wei
coined and nurturcd them and
seek TO make this proud country
once more n hotbcd of European
passion.
little while ago such a thing
would have seemed incredible. Be
cause it was incredible we made no
preparation for it. We would have
been almost ashamed to prepare for
it, as if we were suspicious of our
selves, our own comrades and nelgh-
borsl But the ugly and incredible
thing has actually come about and we
are without adequate federal laws 70
deal with it. 1 urge you to enact
such laws at the earliest possible mo-
ment and feel that in doing so l am
urging you to do nothing less than
save the honor and self-respect OF the
nation. Such creatures of passion.
disloyalty. and anarchy must be crush
ed out. They are not many, but they
are infinitely malignant, and the hand
of our power should close over them
at once. They hive formed plots to
destroy property, they have entered
into conspiracies against the neutrai-
ity of the government, they nave
sought to pry into every confidential
transaction of the government in or
der to serve interests alien to our own
1t is possible to deal with these things
very effectually. need not Suggest
the terms in which they may be dealt
with.
I wish that it could be said that only
a few men, misled by mistaken senti-
ments of allegiance to the govern
ments under which they were born,
had been guilty of disturbing the self
possession and misrepresenting the
and principles of the country
during these days OF terrible war,
when it would seem that every man
who was truly an American would in
stinctively make it mis- duty and his
pride to keep the scales of Judgment
even and prove himself partisan-of
no nation but his own. But ii cannot
There are some men among US and
many resident abroad who, though
born and bred in the United States and
calling themselves Americans, have so
forgotten themselves and their honor
as citizens as to put their passionate
sympathy with one or the other SIDE
in the great European conflict above
their regard for the peace and dignity .
of the United States. They also preach
and practice disloyalty. No laws. L
suppose. can reach corruptions of the
mind and heart; but / should not
speak of others without also speaking
Of these and expressing the even deep
err humiliation and scorn which every
and thoughtfully pa
triotfc American must feel when he
they are daily bringing upon us.
While we speak of the preparation
Of the nation to make sure of her Sc
;urity and her effective power we
must not fail into the patent error Of
that her real strength comes
rom ornaments and mere safe
guards of written law. 1t comes, of
course, from her people, their energy.
heir success in their undertakings.
heir free opportunity to use the nat
ind of the lands outside our continent
al borders which look to us for pro-
ection. for announcement, and for
assistance in their development: from
he organization and freedom and Wit
Ility of our economic life.
The domestic questions which
engaged the attention of the last
congress are more vital to the ma
ton i'm this its time of test than
at any other time. We cannot
adequately make ready for any
trial of our strength unless we
wisely and promptly direct the
force of our laws into these all
important fields of domestic ac-
ton. n matter which IL seems to
me we should have very much az
heart is the creation of the right
instrumentaIities by which to mo-
bilizc our economic resources In
any time of national necessity.
take 1t for granted that i do not
need your authority to call into
systematic consultation with the
directing officers of the army and
navy men of recognized leadership
and ability from among our citi-
Zens who are thoroughly familiar.
for example, with the transporta-
ton facilities of the country and
therefore competent to advise
how they may be co-ordinated
when the need arises. those who
can suggest the best way i'm which
to bring about prompt co-opera-
ton among the manufacturers OF
the country. should ii be neccs-
sary. and those who could assist
to bring the technical skill of the
country TO the aid of the govern
mcnt in the solution of particular
problems of defense / only hope
that IL L should find ii feasible to