The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-22

US CAnEERo1
nations of Europe were N an alliance
under British leadership. 1t is a fact
that in all their wars until now the
British have found the weight Of public
opinion in the United States against them.
However earnestly and honestly gov
eminent may strive to observe neu-
trality. public opinion in a democracy
insists upon umpiring all quarrels be-
tween nelghboring nations. But Ameri-
cans have proved the impartiality OF
their verdicts. If they are pro-English
today. they were pro-Boer yesterday. If
they lean toward the side of Russia and
Belgium now. they were anti-Russian in
the japanese war and anti-Belgian in
the Congo campaign And if they are
pro-FrenCh in 1915. they were ardently
prO-Germen in 1870
In view OF that record. II is unfair to
challenge this great court of public opin-
ion with racial bias and with preJudices
imported from Europe. 1t is American
without qualification or Importation. In
A shotgun campaign down South an old
Colored man pleaded ''Marse Johnslng.
yo' wouldn't shoot po' low-down niger
like me- would yo'' Hi amt maxim no
'sturbance. case Hi b'heve in lettin' de
Angry-Saxon rule" But neither the
"Angry-Saxon'' nor any other variety of
European anger sways the Judgment of
the republic
The Great Migration.
It was said in colonial days that God
had slfted a whole nation that he might
send choice grain over into the Anneri-
can wilderness But He was not to stop
with one nation. On the contrary. all
the nations have been winnowed to seed
he Sald ~ Neu- World
At its birth the republic virtually was
of one tongue and of one faith. The peo-
pie Of most of the States had come wholly
from the British Isles And there was
hardly person in the country whose for
bears were from the farther side OF the
Alps or from beyond the valley of the
Rhine.
Many American statesmen in those
days including even the generally far
seeing Washington, dreaded the addi-
ton of any new elements to the popu-
lation. But already the United States
really had placarded the world with
the most seductive advertisement for
Immigrants that ever has been is
sued-the Declarati ton of Independence
The Alien act of 1898 gives evidence
Of the political attitude in that early
time. BY its harsh provisions Con-
gress clothed the President with de-
spotic power over foreignerS resident
in the United States. authorizing him
without TRIAL or hearing and at his sole
discretion to Danish any alien whose
presence in the country might be OBJ
jectionab BILE to him. But that law. in
violation of American liberty and hos
pital ity. shamed even its Federalist
authors. and President John Adams.
who had signed it. boosted that he
never enforced " in a single instance.
The flow of Immigration was hardly
more than a trickling brooklet until
the thwarted revolutions of 1880 and
I84S in Europe. But after those dis
heartening events it swelled to a flood
and there followed the greatest migra-
ton on record. In all. more than 3d.
100000 immi grants have passed
through the open door of the repub-
lie since 1920.
Nor is that flowing tide of humanity
remarkable alone for its volume. 1t is
the greatest migration in length as
we'll as in numbers. Never before in
all their recorded wanderings have
the Nations made so long a journey
as this.
But the Crowning distinction of
AMERICAN immigration is that it is the
first free and peaceable movement Of
the people since. in the dawn of hu-
man history. they left the cradle of the
Cauca sian race and started westward
on their restless pursuit of the sun.
For those 10000. 900 and more came not
at the command of an Attila or an Ala
ric to rob and slay. but by their own
choice to sow and reap. toll and build
And they were weaponed. not with
spears. but with picks.
A Mayf1ower Sails Every Day.
Once a dock loafer in Old Plymouth
pointed out to ME the spot last tread by
the Pilgrim Fathers before sailing away
to plant a new Plymouth. But it is
even more impressive. in the course of
old world journeyings. to see a group
of latter-day pilgrims setting out upon
the same voyage.
I recollect one soft spring morning
Sicily, when my train. which was fol-
lowing the ivory white shore of the
blue Ionian Sea from Taormina to Mes
sina. paused at station where all the
people of the countryside had gathered
to say farewell to a little band of neigh
bors leaving for America Mothers and
grandmothers, sisters, and sweethearts
were sobbing at the parting and silent
tears stood on the cheeks of the old
men. That living picture was far more
affecting than the painted representation
of the embarkation at Delfthaven. In
1920. which the visitor to the Capitol at
Wa shington sees on the wall of the ro-
tunda. For a Mayfiower sails every
day. 4
Again / have seen amid the Lebanon
Mountains. the entire population Of a
valley pouring down to the railway sta
ton to bid Godspeed to a company OF
syrian pilgrims bound for the New
World. When the train bore them away
toward the port Of Beirut. many of