Washington Journal., 1915-11-12
SERIOUSNESS.
Especial Correspondence forthis paper
by a prominent Washingtonianl.
In these columns we have repeated

III IItSC GOilllllllS VIC idNC lCDCdtCQtN
asserted the doctrine that true Ameri-
canism involves an effort at bringing
about, lot the turning the millions of
Americans Of non-British extraction in
to typical Anglo-Saxons, but the blend
ing of the best qualities of all II va
rious stocks into a greater and better
form Of national life which will con-
stitute the true and mature America of
the future. In this new and composite
civilization, the elements contributed by
the British, German and Irish stocks will
naturally predominant over all the
others, if for no reason but that there
are many more people of these nation
alities than Of any other.
1t is fair to ask What particular
qualities will the Germans contribute to
the new national character? and we shall
have no difficulty in answering One Of
them will be earnestness,
Hardly anything, it seems to me-, is
fraught with greater danger to the flu
ture of the American people than the
lack of seriousness, one might almost
say the frivolous spirit, in which indi-
viduals as well as whole communities
approach the most serious subjects. A
few examples will show what is meant.
It is universally agreed that our chill
dren should have the spirit of patriotism
inculcated into their minds. To a Ger
man, and of course to an American of
German culture. the obvious way to do
so, is to hold up before the pupils in
school, constantly and impressively, the
ethical ideal of s~elf-sacrifce and devo-
ton, with special emphasis on that vir-
tue as directed towards country and ma
lion. Hardly anything Of that sort is
done in our schools except incidentally
and casually by SOME individual teacher.
To be sure, the method IS la~borious-it
means skillfM teaching, continued for
years. We have invented a simpler way:
In practically every school in the coun-
Try, the flag is raised in the morning,
and the children salute it with a pretty
little formula. That will make them
patriots, will it not? Serious work ?
E'udgel Play!
We are agreed hat we are i'll pre-
pared to defend ourselves against a pos
M Lao&:1a a@to.f- rrha ~a-,ad,, 4; o~a
posed at once. Let everybody who en-
joys that sort of thing go to a training
camp, at Pittsburgh or anywhere else,
and practice the manual at arms for
two weeks. 1t will be we'll to take a
few long shikes"-not too long, some
body might get tired. Then they will all
be soldiers, ready to fight the world.
Serious work? What a borel Let us
play
Columns could be filled with the CON
stantly recurring attempts p~ervading our
entire public life, by which we try to
remedy acknowledged evils or accom-
p!ish desired ends without too much eff
fort, and especially without real sacri-
fee. OF course we fail-for nothing
worth knowing can be had without pay
ing the price.
Germans know this fundamental truth,
and stand ready to sacrifice themselves
iii order to purchase the welfare Of their
country. They do SO not merely in
times Of great national stress, as to-day,
but in the most humdrum times of peace,
by doing their daily duty. Germans call
that discipline.
There is no reason to doubt that the
American people also would be capable.
In times of national stress and danger,
of sacrificing blood and treasure for
their country, as they have done in the
past. What we lack, is the capacity Of
daily. constantly repeated sacrifice. which
counts the most in the long run.
1t is the business Of Americans who
are fortunate enough TO have German
blood and traditions, to cultivate this
capacity in themselves and to commune
cate it to their less-favored fellow-citi-
zens of different extraction.
For what America needs more than
anything else is discipline and serious
ness.
There was IN odd error in the press
dispatch announcing the death Of Her
mann Ridder, the other day. The way
it was printed, it read Although he
championed the German cause in the
present war. Mr.. Ridder was always a
loyal American OF course anybody
but an Englishman or a Colonial would
see at once that what was meant was
Because he was a loyal American, he
championed the cause Of Germany in
the present war"