Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-06-30
Fourth Of July Address
BY Col. Theodore Roosevelt

buttons. 1t is a better thing clearly
to keep In mind the needs Of America; /;
and to strive efficiently to meet the
needs Of the foreign-born American
citizen, in order the better to meet the
needs OF our common country, in
which his children and our children
are to dwell side by side, and ulti-
mately to see their blood fused and
all alike adopt the same ideals.
1t has been suggested that the pub
lie schools should be used in connec-
tion with these celebrations. In them
on the evening before the Fourth the
American-bon, and the foreign-born
who intend to become Americans,
should be encouraged to meet, so that
each shall see and know the others as
fellow-citizens. District groups would
thus be gathered in the various pub
lie schools and patriotic exercises
should be held; and the school child
rem, who are themselves, no matter
what their parentage. in the over
whelming majority of cases native
born, can best bring the two groups
together and make them realize their
community fundamental interest in
American citizenship. This will give
the individual contact which is the
necessary preliminary to that group
contact which is itself a step toward
doing away with the groups.
Then, on the day following, the
Fourth of July itself, there can be a
general gathering where the people
will meet less intimately, but where
they can all take part in expressing
with fervor and in no perfunctory
manner their loyalty to America.
The addresses themselves should
mark the beginning of work for GER
tain definite objects. Among these
are:
| 1. The fastening of the speaking
of English. Every public school, ev-
cry business or philanthropic agency,
should be employed for this purpose.
There should be a multiplication of
facilities for this purpose in schools,
in lessons, in pay envelopes. There
should be advancement of wages and
promotion for workingmen who speak
English. There can be no objection
to. on the contrary in many cases
good will come from, preserving other
languages, and above all by spreading
among all our people the best old
country traditions and customs-the
German "gemuthlichkeit," for inst
ance. But the first duty of our citi.
zens is to develop their own American
traditions and customs; and English
Is the master key to American oppor-
tunity and the primal sign of citizen
ship. In time of peace our people
need this common language for safety
and social success for the sake of
proper performance of all the duties
Of citizenship, and for the proper TAX.
ing advantage of industrial opportuni.
ties. In time Of war 1t is essential as
a sign of national solidarity.
2. nliteracy should. be reduced.
Every immigrant under forty.four
should learn to read and write, wheth-
er in school or by correspondence
courses. Every American citizen
should read at least one American
newspaper written in the language of
his fellow-countrymen The man born
abroad will naturally and properly
read newspaper written in the lang
uage of his birthplace; but he should
also learn to read another newspaper,
one written in the language which is
the language of his adopted country,
which will probably be the sole lang.
uage OF his sons, and almost certainly
the sole language of his grandsons.
8. There should be change in
the naturalization ceremony. 1t should
mean something. The standard should
be raised, and yet the process simpli.
fed and the sessions adapted to the
needs of the workingman. He should
be put to less cost OF money and less
waste Of time; and on the other hand
he should be required to take part In
1t as a dignified procedure and to
show that he has a feeling of loyalty
and understanding as a coming citi.
zen. The woman, in my judgment,
should be required herself 10 become
a citizen, not to become one merely
by marrying a man who is one. She
should be taught what American citiz.
enship means in rights, In protection
to her when she works and AZ wife
and mother, and in protection to her
children. Americab.born women
should seek out their incoming sisters,
to carry to them the best that there is
In America, In the standards Of living,
In care Of children, in the sclf.respect.
ing performing Of duty by man and
wife alike in the home. Our educa.
tional institution should work haud.in.
hand with the court in all these mat.
ters.
S. People cannot teach what they
do not themselves know. They can.
not give what they do not themselves
possess. The realization by American.
born men and women of their duty