The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-07-03


The thing that unites US is the
thing that America means for us all
freedom and opportunity, The In
terests OF all Of us lie right here
What will It matter to us or to our
children II some old-world throne Is
tumbled from it's foundations? But
II will vitality concern us II this couu-
try's interests shall suffer, II its pres
tICo is dimmod or damaged, II Its
business shall be destroyed 1t Will
matter infinitely to farmer, or labor
err 10 coal minor or hod-carrier as
well as to the merchant or banker,
We Rre all N this new venture OF
democracy on the seas Of time to-
rcther; II we suffer shlpwreck, labor
and capital, native born and for
cigner. 70 to the bottom together.
Second. Among the unifyqlng
forces at work in this country, we
must always emphasize our public
schools.
Let these operate unhindcred, ana
there will be no greater factor In the
unlNcation Of our citizenship, some
ycars ago series OF articles on the
Making OF an American Citizen
ran in the Atlantic Magazine by Mary
Antin, 1t is the story of her own
life II is very interesting, even pa
thetic, to note how the foreign child
gradually develops into an American
consciousness she says. "As read
how the patriots planned tho ReNo-
luton ant the women gave their
sons TO die in battle, and the heroes
led to victory, and the rejoicing peo-
plo set up a Republic. 1t dawned on
me gradually what was meant by my
country. The people all desiring
noble things and striving for them
together, defylng their oppressors,
giving their lives for each other, all
this ii was that made my country 1t
was not thing that l understood;
| could not go home and tell my
mother about it, as l told her other
things learned at school. But !
knew that could say, my country
and feel It as one feels God, George
Washington himself could not mean
more than / when he said "my coun-
try" after had once felt 1t.
For the country was for all ciu-
Gems and / was a citizen, And when
We stood up to sing America" |
shouted the words with all my might
was in earnest in proclaiming 10
the world my love for my new found
country.
81 love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and tempted hills"
AS the day approached when tho
school was TO hold exercises in honor
of Washlngton's birthday, tho halls
resounded at all hours with tho
strains of patriotic songs; and who
was the model OF the attentive pupil,
more than once lost my place In the
lesson. MS | stralned to hear through
closed doors, some noighboring class
rehearsing. THE Star-SDangled Ban
ner" II the doors happened to be
open. and the chorus broke out I'M
yelled:
"oh say does that star-spangled ban
ner yet wave,
Der the land Of tho free, and the
home of the brave"
delicious tremors ran UP and down
my spine and | was faint with sup
pressed emotions" The public
school is the greatest institution for
American patriotism.
Third. The third unifying clement
would be some form Of universal
military training.
This would bring together the son
of the hod-carrier and Of the banker
upon common footing, with COM
mon opportunities, and common aim.
The details of such a scheme would
have to be worked out; but the idea
that runs through 1t, upon which 1t
is based, is one that would unite. A
suggestion might be drawn from
Switzerland. Switzerland" 1t is
truly said, "ls the most democratic
of republics and the lease mllltaris-
tlc;" and, yet, relative to Its size, 1T
is the one best prepared against war.
There should be universal mill
tary service for our young men on the
Swiss basis. In Switzerland the boys
are trained during their last few
years in the public schools, and after
they graduate from these schools
they serve with the army for four