Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-12
AMERICA URER ALLIES.

One paragraph of President Wilson's
speech at Philadelphia addressed d.
rectly to naturalized citizens Of this
country should be heard and needed
by every one Of those and their de-
scendants. 1t is one thing to hold love
and pride in nativity. 1t is another
and widely. different. to- divide. al
legiance. Listen to the president:
While you bring all countries with
you, you come with a purpose of leav-
ing all other countries behind you
bringing what is best of their spirit but
not looking over your shoulder or seek
ing to perpetuate what you leave in
them. 1 would not certainly be one
who would suggest that a man ceases
to love the place Of his origin. 1t is
one thing to love the place where you
were born, and another thing to dedi-
cate yourself to the place where you
go. You can't be an American II you
think Of yourself in groups. America
does not consist of groups. A man who
considers himself as belonging to a
national group is not yet an American.
My advice to you Is to think first
not only Of America, but to think first
Of humanity and you do not love
humanity If you seek to divide human
ity in jealous camps.
Heed the words whatever national
ity lies behind You. The hyphen does
not belong between the word "Ameri-
can" and the name of any other country
on earth. The oath that makes the
foreign born into American citizens
eliminates other citizenships when it
makes an American citizen with the
privileges and rights of American citi-
zenship. It is not that he shall forget
his nativity but that he shall remember
his allegiance first. The time has
come for a complete amalgamation of
citizenship into the American.
The great war with its involvement
Of the nationalities which have sent
their millions into this country to as
sist in its development and prosperity
must do one Of two things, serve to
destroy the groups Of which the presi-
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Americans arrayed one against an
other in groups, fighting the battles
over Of their home countries to the dis
organization of their present and
future citizenship.
The Times-Republican has found
some Of its friends severely criticizine
the neutral attitude ot this paper which
has consistently refused to be a
vehicle for argument and answer be-
tween groups. This criticism has
come from both the sides which are
arrayed against each other. Refusal
to print elimination and recriminatior
has been the policy Of the T.-R. be.
cause it does not propose to fight al
European war in Iowa or let any other.
| fight It thru its columns. This j!
| America and Iowa. We are all Ameri
can citizens and Iowans whatever ou1
previous nationalities or our racia
descent and It behooves us all ant
each to remain American citizenI
rather than partisans in a war which
should never have been begun ant
which il the crowning disgrace O
twentieth century civilization.
Heed the president. Stand firmly OF
Ia platform Of complete Americanism
Let Europe hght its struggle out il
Europe. Refuse to mingle in the re-
symposium that makes blood puddl
out Of the Atlantic.
j America first. righteousness an
peace above all. Not France or Eng