The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-29
IMPORTANCE Of LANGUAGE.

Clayton Sedgwick Cooper has peen
discussing in the Editor and Publish
er the foreign language newspapers OF
the United States. He remarks upon
the freedom Of the press in the Unit
ed States, even when that freedom has
degenerated into licenttous abuse.
To the foreign language newspaper or
magazine has been permitted the ut
most liberty of expression. Mr..
Cooper notes that IN some cases OF
fragrant attacks upon the United
States government, on the president
on national ideals, and on the very
spirit OF American institutions, post
masters have referred copies Ct the
offending papers to the postoffice de-
partment, believing that their sedi-
tious utterances should be barred from
the mails, and other men have brought
such reasonable diatribes to the at
tention Of the attorney general. But
as yet in no case of this kind has the
government seen fit to suspend or
suppress any issue Of such journals,
says the Des Moines Capital.
In an interview with Mr.. G. w.
Harris, Mr. Cooper says: ct feel
in general that the interest Of
the people goes with the language
they use. I feel that the tension
of so many foreign language
newspapers in the United States,
while one readily sees the reason
for them, simply makes easier the
prejudfces, traditions, religious
and social OF the old world on
the part Of our foreign born pop
ulation, and in many cases In
creases the difficulty of workers
to Americanize the immigrant"
There Is very great need at
present for the press of all sec
tons Of the United States to pre-
sent a united front for the
Americanization of the immigrant.
I say the Am ORGANIZATION Of the
immigrant which is a much larger
idea than the naturalization of the
alien The laws Of the country
touch the immigrant in only two
or three comparatively external
places, as the immigrant Office
and the naturalization office. AS
matter Of fact, an all around
education is necessary to make
the immigrant realize the Amer
lean spirit"
Mr.. Cooper says newspapers
printed in foreign languages are
more of barrier than a help to
the Americanization Of the i'm
migrant. %. You cannot
get close to a people. cannot
take any real part in their life.
cannot understand its meaning to
them, cannot get at any Of It's
inner secrets unless you under
stand their language. You cannot :.
enjoy intimate intercourse with
any man unless you and he can
talk the same tongue. People
will not conflde In strangers, or
open their hearts to one whose
language they do not know or who
cannot talk with them in their
own language. English Is the
language of this country and there
should be no barrier, no hindrance,
and no delay in the teaching Of
English to every foreigner who
comes here to live"
We agree with Mr.. Cooper when he
says that immigrants should be re-
Quired to learn the English language.
Mr.. Cooper thinks that all the news
papers published IN foreign languages
should publish several columns in the
English language as well.
The Germans know the power OF
language as respects loyalty and they
require every inhabitant OF German
island to acquire the German Ian
guage.
We say again, that no man should
be given the ballot in this country un-
I'll he can speak and. write the English
language The government has a
right TO make this requirement and it
is a requirement that would benefit
the immigrant as well as this country.