New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-21
"A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY"
A New England School Teacher Deplores
the New Patriotism
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: May extend a word of sympathy TO
those who, in the columns of your paper,
have voiced their deep humiliation and shame
because Of the history we are making TO-
day? Every patriotic American must feel AZ
times that he is literally "a man without
country" OF prosperity, wellbeing I'M
munity from bloodshed we hear much. VI
principle, right and justice we hear so little
that We sometimes wonder IL the words are
still in the dictionary. Instead of honor
first" we have safety first" In place OF
"He has kept US out Of Disgrace we pirate
HE has kept US out of war" popular
sentimental song runs 81 didn't raise my boy
TO be a soldier" but have yet to hear of
anybody finding words and music for such
title as 81 didn't raise my boy to be
coward"
If the new Americanism" has como to
stay-and the peoples Endorsement OF Will
sonism would seem to show that they are
not keen for a change-then we should con-
slider the effect of this latter day patriotism
upon the boys and girls who are 10 DC inc
citizens Of tomorrow. When | taught school
in New England, years ago, course III
American history included certain iunua-
mental facts-that ours was morally great
nation. that the flag was respected at nome
and abroad and that it stood for protectioi'
on land and sea. All this was very anti
quated. of course, for if our advanced "
IDEAS Of patriotism are right, then the grea.
men who made and preserved THESE OhiVeu
States were wrong. Therefore, why not
strict censorship Of our school histories
somewhat along these lines;
Elimination Of all Presidents ana nav,ons'
heroes who were not "too proud to hgnt'
proner denunciation of the Revolutionary
'brigands."
A substitution of rhetorical fuency for
the protection theory, since no situation is
TOO difficult TO cope with, provided we choose
words long enough and high sounding
enough. -,
Only the future can tell what kind OF
American citizens this new Americanism
will bring forth. Certain editorial writers
assert that the country is sufficiently great
and strong to withstand our recent disasters,
hut thew fail to state on what they Dase
their ROSY guarantees for the future. Be-
cause America is America, can she do no
wrong? Since when have nations thriven
on slothful sefshness? What hope is there
for a people who have put the Lusitania
incident out Of their minds as completely as
if it were a bit Of melodramatic fiction!
No; let US be honest! Let us look facts
in the face and acknowledge that we have
been tried and found lamentably lacking.
Not by reiterating fine compacent platitudes'
but by combating the un-Ameriean spirit
that is abroad to-day, can we hope to re-
deem ourselves-if it is not too late. 1t IS
a significant fact that many thoughtful
American citizens have renounced or are
about to renounce their allegiance to their
native country. Shall we call it dsloyalty
Hardly that. Rather, is it not an idealism
groping for country and a flag that can
be honored and respected in place Of a
country and a flag that have ceased to mean
anything? MAY EMERY HALL.
New York. Nov. Il, 1916.