Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-31

it might hold its mead high among
nations.
When that call fer volunteers for
thre months went forth over the land
there sprang into glow the first EN-
hers Of real Americanism and sunk
into darkness the shallow light Of
colonialism East and West became
one at once-leaving it to Time to
make the four points of the compass j
unit. The intermingling of the brave
boys from Maine with the soldiers OF
Michigan-those of Massachusetts with
Wisconsin. and so on. brought into
living being the idea and ideals OF
National Americanism.
1t is fair to say in the words of the
Great Emancipator. "a new nation was
conceived, dedicated to the PROPOSE
ton that all men arc created free and
equal" for FREEDOM was the power that
made the engine of the North eo-as
it was the brake that stopped the en-
CINE of the South. II was Freedom ct
labor that made the North limitless in
resources. 1t was stlltedness Of labor
that made the South impoverished and
destitute
That was not the Cay of the hyphe-
rated American. and how splendid it
would be, could we hut impress on the
minds of our recent made countrymen
from foreign nations the true import
of Americanism Is portrayed by the
lives and examples CT our blue coat ed
heroes. They have not drunk in the
spirit those men carry. they have not
basked in those meE's ideals, they
rave not eaten of tt cir bread of de-
votion. We have offered homes, fell
iowship, privileges and liberty to
thousands across the sea, but we have
asked too little from them. We have
not done our duty in instiling into
their hearts the cost, worth and value
of the opportunities we so freely ten
der
Since the days of Gettysburg and
Appomattox Court House. there has
been tremendous influx of foreign
population. Welcomed to our shores
as 4 haven for mankind. granted al
most undreamed of opportunities, the
Irish, German, French. Italian, Greek,
Pole, Russian and Lithuanian have
dropped among us in enormous num-
bers. Bringing with them the thoughts
and ideals of their rative born lands,
this free country of United States I'M
trammelled by the sovereign masters Of
the Old World has been an Eldorado
indeed. No other place on the face Of
the Globe has offered so much for SO
little cost.
Cheerfully and wi ! glad hearts they
have parted from their native lands,
knowing the opportunity for liv-
ing. pleasure. enjoyment, contentment
waits for them in Our Land. No Ion
ser does each day hold forth its limi-
tations. No more does the son follow
the footsteps of the father. No more
does the slow and sluggish step bring
the laborer home from his daily toll.
A new buoyancy takes their body, a
new spring comes in their step, a new
idea throbs in their brain. A land Of
Freedom welcomes them, typified and
signitied by the stars and stripes Of
Old Glory.
They arrive here and marry
America, becoming Irish American.
German American. Franco American,
etc, and we may trUthfully say that
in many, many instances, and we hope
in most instances, the union has
proved profitable to all concerned. But
these frightful days of warfare-these
trying times Of feverish excitement
these weeks of uncertain, unproductive
results-cause too many instances of
divorce between these contracting par
ties. Too often their breaths of SYM
pathy Turk back to those abandoned
homes and countries
1t is not surprising that such in
stances should sometimes occur, bur
when. those sympathies become un-
American, become so critical as to in
volve our National existence, then cool
heads. true American hearts must come
to the front and warn our impetuous
newcomers of their duties, and al
legiance. 1t Is our duty to teach them
this and our failure If we do not. O,
would that we could in one short day
teach them the true lesson that these
brave men taught onslaught mankind.
Would that all could have instilled into
their hearts the throb Of American
freedom unadulterated by foreign
ideals! Would tina. we would offer
each day in peace what these men and
their comrades offered In minutes of
war! Lot US cleanse our citizenship.
let US advance our ideals so that the
melting-pot Of civilization may not be-
come a seething Dot Of fermentation"