The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1916-09-26
KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER %, 1910
WHY "ANiERICANIsNr"?

q
necessary. was it thought desirable to
make "Americanism" the rallying cry
of an electoral campaign; for, until
now, there was never q need for 1t.
The occasion has arisen from the
disposition to substitute political ex-
pediency for that protection of the
national honor and Of the rights of
citizenship which has in the past been
regarded as the first duty OF our gov
ernment. Our president has boasted
Of his reckless enthusiasm for hu-
manity."; but our citizens. in period
OF nominal peace. have perished by
the hundred without serious at
tempt to save them from violence
robbery and death. It Is for that rea
son that we are now speaking OF
"Americanism,' and It is for that rea-
son that we need to consider anew
what It really means.
"Americanism" Is not a new ideal,
1t is our inherited tradition. What Is
it that distinctively marks the Amer
ican spirit?
Our fathers felt that there was in |
human personality something sacred.
something which mere physical force
ought to respect. and that govern
ments should be made to respect it.
The fundamental need of a human
being Is liberty protected by law.
How, after 1t was won by the over
throw Of absolutism ana the establish
iient of independence, could it be de-
Tended from the arrogance and az.
gresst0n of mere power?
The answer our fathers gave to that
question was a constitutional union
for the common defense"-a mutual
pledge that the right of the individual
citizen to life. liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness should be regarded a. q
sacred right. for the defense of which
the whole force of the,nation must, II
necessary. be exercised. |:
This spirit has not animated the
present administration at Washing .
.on. It's main purpose has been to [
seep itself in power. To that end It
8 ready to place a class interest. a
sectional interest. or the fear Of for
,ign power before its duty to stand {
or the equal rights Of all. regardless !
II mere numbers and voting power.
Ind for the rights Of American citi-
'ens wherever they may be.
1t Is fact of record that, between I
lis inauguration and the present time I
he president of the United States, I
Turing a period when American citi-
ems were being robbed, outraged and {
murdered in Mexico, and shot through {
md drowned on the high seas, has
made score Of public addresses in
which he spoke of our duties toward
!exico and other countries, of peace, a
Il the flag. of the army and navy, and t
II our place and influence among the I
lations; but NEVER ONCE. in a sin +
lie statement to the public or to Con- t
'ress. SO far as l have been able to t
'~'~s ~~esc AAO sn ShCpC o00ICo6 IuuSu v
he duty of the government Of the
United States to protect the lives or c
he property Of citizens of this coun-
ry. It Is this absence OF sense of Ip,
esponsibility that has brought the a
7ord "Americanism" into this CAM n
align. The people have come to feel y
hat, while the administration boasts n
devotion to the abstract idea OF hui g
lanfty. there is no effective protec- Il
ion of the American citizen as such. 1;
IN the contrary. they have seen the h
for the security of their
usiness. their property. and their E
YES, upon which they had formerly a
elied, gradually disappear through H
isregard.-David Jayne Hill. a,