Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-09-09
THE DUTIES Of
CITIZENSHIP
SUPERINTENDENT FRANKIE OF
THE CITY SCHOOLS AD-
DRESSES CITIZENS.
many HEAR INTERESTING TALK

The district court room was well
filled yesterday morning, many cit
izens being present to witness the al.
mission of number of citizens and
to hear the address to them by Super
intendent A. A. Frankie of the city
schools. Back of the bench was
draped the flag which is now the flag
of those to whom Judge Ayers ad
ministcrcd the oath of allegiance, five
Austrians. four Britons, four Holland
ers one Dane, one Norwegian and one
Swedc, the list being as follows:
Joseph krause. Loedeear Skalka
Fray Hcokl. Andrew Laurence and
Anton Ruza, Austria; Simon Janicek,
Ernest GODDARD, James Nelson ana
John Livingston. England John v
Geisor, James A. V. Geiser, Agnes
Geiser and Bastiaan Kooli, Holland. :.
Carl F.noch Carlson, Sweden John r.
M. lInlvcrson, Norway Iohn Il. Bang.
Denmark
Frankie Speaks.
Following the administration of the
oath, Judge Ayers introduced l'rofea-
aor Frankie. with the statement that
he had consented to make few re-
marks appropriate to such an occa-
sion.
Mr.. Frankie expressed his pleasure
in addressing them as his fellow cit
izens. II was altogether fitting that
that should reflect for a moment on
what their admission meant. They
had become citizens of II nation dif
fering in form and In ideals from those
in which they were born Their obli
cations as citizens Of this country
become greater than those they had
formerly known. No nation eXacted
from its citizens such sacred and i'm
portant obligations as this one There
were, perhaps, nations having as great
extent of territory than this and ma
tions with larger armies and navies
but there was nowhere on earth n ma
tion that assumed so large and SO vital
a place in the hopes of mankind. This
government was built upon principle
that was here promulgated for the
first time, a government for the peo
pie. by the people and of the people;
and the right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness was guaranteed
to every citizen. The grand monarch
OF France once declared: III am the
state" In this country the citizens
were the state. In other nations the
citizens were Subjects" Of the state,
to serve as the ruler might direct
Here the state was the people them
selves This nation had grown and
prospered until today 1t held fore
most position among the nations of
the earth. They should ever keep in
mind that upon us look all others;
looked as tha hope of the world for
the continuation of democratic gov
ernmcnt. II had been said:
"Ir this experiment of democracy
should fail, then indeed will die the
hope Of the race for success of demo
cratic government"
If it was true that no nation offer
ed such opportunities for individual
progress and advancement, II neces
sarily followed that they owed this
nation relatively greater obligations
than they did as citizens of other ma
tions. These obligations increased in
this country because the powers of
the government were distributed
among the citizens at large, and each
cltlZen carried with him some of these
powers and the resulting obligations.
Each citizen was here ruler in some
degree. When il was said in this coun-
try that every man was king, II was
meant that all of the powers of the
government came from the citizens
In taking the oath of allegiance they
partook In the greatest benefits a ma
tion could bestOw upon it's citizens.
That act secures you to your title In
property, brings to you the blessings
of liberty. assures You freedom of
thought freedom of conscience and
religious freedom. You are given the
widest opportunity for advancement
and progress, and thus yOu are also
under heavy obligations. In observing
these obligations two things are re-
Continued on Page FourD