New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-26
AMERICAN PATRIOTISM DORMANT
Difference Our Spirit weS M s 20
Lak
National American characteristics at freen"

dered paupers by the seizure 40 New.
hands Of their property. What have A.
cans in America done 70 punish the go.
bandits? | am not now referring % ibs l
clnmont. whose task Is always difficult. ~
abiding 20 the people Have they pro,'..-.
against such outrages? Haze they belS -
mass meetings, vo'cing their indigna.,.,
Have they offered themselves % The rov...
ment 10 avenge the Mexican insults, ~.
Unconcerned. as If their national pride ~.
not Inundated, they did not seem 10 ga.
rap whether their co-citizens were murs...t
or not. L is only since Villas iucursio, R..
American territory that they manifer
trihing interest, which expresses Itself
that one sentence. "They ought 20 hang b.,
Formerly, meaning twenty-five years a..
the violation Of American TERRITORY Vs.,
have created such a tumult That the Co.
ernors would have been compelled 20 call A..
the militia TO keep order among the Ans,
cans. Street parades, night professions ma.
meetings, demanding prompt justice A..
apologies. would have been the order OF n.
dav American patriotism would have mar
tested itself in . hundred different v,v.
What do we see to-day? Any one intere,,,i
in the Mexican affair besides a news Interests
Not that know Of. Does 10 mean that Ane,
leans have lost their patriotism, Eyidepnv
not. But patriotism OF to-day is not spop,,.
neous, as of yore; il has TO be drummed .,
and worked up-in other words, 10 must !.
awakened from a lethargIc sleep.
Once in a while / see 10 aroused on ~.
vaudeville stage when an aerial dancer Al,
tates the Stars aud Stripes or when America
soldiers are shown on the screen. That sinl
of patriotism, needless 10 cay, Is not The res
patriotism
Besides. the interest IN public afairs-ls,,
ing out things International waning y
the salons. the restaurants and the ea,l,
the conversation is OF a discouccrting ban,
ity. A divorce scandal, with spicy details. .,
famous criminal case are as the headline,
of a programme. Things affecting America
civism, with all its inherent virtues. Ar
hardly spoken Of. In former years each pub
lie school had debating society, which wosls
meet once a week 20 discuss subjects Of Dub
lie interest. Parents would be interested Ia.
teners TO their sons and daughters arm.
ments and take an immense and pruftatt
pleasure in those discussions. And next IA,
the conversation at home would be- an ansy
sis of the meeting and a general psychological
examination of the why's and Where.0res q
the arguments.
To-day, under the benevolent smile Of thei
Parents, the boys discuss the pitching OF ihei
favorite baseball team, while the girls Prise
tise the latest dance.
The noble ideals Of these beloved Uai,t,
States are not dead; they are dormant Ps
trotsm, am sure, is IN every soul Of N
American worthy Of that name. Liberty an
independence ere too precious 20 risk IN vev
Of the intrigues and plots fomcntod by h
enemies OF free America. As fore.gne
whose affection for this country and Who's
gratitude for the hospitality he enjoys ar
sincere, take the liberty 10 say 60 A..., eAa
from America: II may be old-iashioned, !
NAY seem absurd. 20 suggest a rcturn 70 eide
times, but it is necessary for the prenuati0
of this Republic to show, as your iorefa,her
did. that it is the people who govern hi
country and that their vigilance VIII preser
it from all those Nexicans or Europeans VII
dream of and who hope for IFS dccadenee.
49, CASTOR RIVE.
New Yori March %, 1916