The Washington times., 1916-02-23
PRESIDENT DENIES
DOUBLING LOYALTY
OF FOREIGN BORN
Receives and Addresses Deleya- :
ton Of Hungarian Citizens at
the White House.

Declaring that he had never doubted
the loyalty of the great majority OF
foreign-born citizens OF the United
States. President Wilson. In o brief ad-
dress this afternoon at the White House
to a delegation OF Hungarian citizens,
paid n glowing tribute to the men of
foreign birth who have placed their
hearts as we'll as their fortunes at the
disposal Of the nation.
The delegation presented a set of
resolutions adopted at n mass meeting
held In New York last month and at
tended by American citizens 70 Hun
garian birth.
Alexander Konta. OF New York. who
headed the delegation. protested against
insinuations which had been made that
hungarlans were not loycl. He protest.
ed against any attempt being made to
suppress the right of freedom of
speech.
Never Douh I'd, Wilson Says.
The President sad:
You have thanked me sir. for re-
ceiving you. do not deserve any
thanks; 1t is a real pleasure to have re-
ceived you and to have seen so many
CT you upon such an errand.
IL want to say that so far as my own
feelings and opinions are concerned, the
errand was unnecessary. have never.
myself. doubted for a moment, sir. the
feeling that gentlemen such as your
selves have toward America.
II recognize you as just as much
American rs anybody born I'm this coun-
try; u. s.u,o..a os , 49, .,,ro go,
have united with me In deploring the
spirit which has been manifested by
some who have misrepresented those for
whom they professed to speak, and my
public protest has been against what
they said and against their misrepre-
sentation of what ! felt sure was the
sentiment of the rank and file of those
Americans, born on the other side OF the
water who have come and enriched
America by giving us their talents ana
their allegiance.
$50 that welcome this occasion as an
opportunity of expressing my unquall-
fed confidence in those thoughtful citl-
zens like yourselves who have identined
themselves In heart as we'll as In Tor
tune with this great country which Is
SO dear to all of us, which Is COM
pounded of all of us. and which does
not belong to any one section or por-
tion of US.
Passion For Equality.
"I have tried to show on various oc-
casions my passion for that duality
which ought to obtain among all those
who profess allegiance to the United
Ste.es.
Il feel highly complimcntcd by this
visit, and-I will not say treasured. be-
cause did not need any reinsurance
but very much cheered by the message
you have brought me. 1 thank you sin
cerely."
Mr.. Konta, In his address preceding
PTandanf'Q Ira
sSn behalf of this committee, Tor
myself, but above ali, in the name or
American citizens of Hungarian birth.
whom he represent we thank you for
receiving us here eSday.
your excellencys s reception of us is
all the proof we want of your faith
In our fidelity TO the United States.
We are not local committee We
represent our feliow-citiSens in ali parts
OF the country. They have authorized
us to speak tor them, to make renewed
profession of our allegiance, IL the coun-
try believes that to be necessary.
Our protest, sir, was made in no dis
loyal or mutinous sririt. Our great
mass meeting was only a demonstration
OF our loyalty to tho country, to the
tive. But the protest was against the
denial to us of two American rights
the right of freedom of opinion and
the right of freedom of speech.
fought as long and as hard for inoss
two rights as did your forefathers, tho
founders Of this republic. Those rights
are as dear to us AZ they are to native
Americans We claim them, and wo
know that we shall have them. Aneri-
ca Is true to it's fundamental principles.
Charges Misrepresentation.
o lew have been misrepresented In a
period of history that Is full of mis-
representations. insinuations and down.
right slander. 1t was important to our
record as an element In the making OF
the future of America that those mis-
representations, those insinuations those
ISLANDERS were repudiated at once. We
Americans of Hungarian birth wish to
20 down in American history with the
unblemished record which we are ELL
deavoring to establish. and which, we
think, we already have established.
Your Excellency's reception OF us
today Is proof to us that you believe n
our loyalty. You, sir clothed win tho
supreme authority of the nation, give
us officially In the nauon's name evi-
dence of It's trust In us. That Is the
reward which we have cndeavored to
deserve. 1t Is the most powerful incen-
, tive. your Excellcncy could give us to
continue to deserve well of the country
of our adoption.
IF we have protested, sir; II In our
hearts we shall continue to believe that
In this terrible war our mother country
= has played worthy role, our maBJ
: meeting In New York was, first OF All,
what our appearance before Your EX-
. cellency today is again-a public avOwal
OF our unwavering loyalty to the cou1-
try. to the flag. and to our President. -
t. DnoosxYo ..:4n