Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-04
IMMIGRATION The
BIG PROBLEM FOR
NATION TO SOLVE
States Attorney Thompson in Address
at Robfnson's Grove Praises
Loyalty of Foreigners.
FORGET HYPHEN AS DUTY CALLS
George c. Wenger. Who is Also Heard,
Urges 0bediance TO Law as Guar
antee of Liberty.

NO man, woman or CD1lQ can dlten1
4 celebration Of the anniversary of the
birth of this great republic without
feeling Just little more secure in his
right to live Every peal of bell is
a new declaration OF independence.
Every report of firecracker recalls
the glorious achievement OF those
sturdy, patriotic pioneers who gave US
the right to make these new declara-
tions of independence; every boom OF
the cannon echoes the story around
the world of a free people, blessed
with the pursuit of their inalienable
rights of life, liberty and happiness
declared States Attorney F. +. ThOmp-
son this morning in his address at the
Edgington Fourth of July celebration
which was held at Robinson's Grove.
Loyalty is Praised.
The speaker first discussed this ma
tion and its humble origin, tracing its
remarkable material advancement and
showing the significance of the
Fourth. He traced the loyalty of the
citizens OF this country in every crisis,
declaring They fought under Mckin-
ley TO wrest our neighbOrs from the
hand of tyrannical Spain and they
will with the same heretofore unheard
of patriotic zeal rally to the call OF
our beloved Wilson to wrest bleeding
to preserve American lives. There
are things in this beloved country of
ours too big for megaphone dema-
gogues to belittle. There are times
when all else is forgotten and we be-
come one great family of true blue,
whole hearted undiluted Americans,
ready to do and to die in the cause of
liberty"
In referring to the European war, Mr..
Thompson insisted that no great prln-
ciple in behalf of humanity is beng
fought for but that all this bitter
ness and suffering is for naught but
princeIv greed. Terrible is the
thought of the wrong for which the
crowned heads Of Europe must answer
TO their Creator
Immigrant Great Problem.
sThe people who compose this nation
were then considered, the speaker
showing that one Of the great problems
confronting us is that of immigration.
In considering how best to fuse these
elements from the old world into one
people and what should be the fire I'M
der the melting pot" Mr.. Thompson
said: Education is one of the best
means of making Americans OF those
who come to our shores. But in spite
Of our efforts to make it so, education
is not vet available to all And the
immigrant needs something besides
education. He needs personal SYM
pathy. individual assistance, neighbOr-
" guidance, and social recognition.
All this and more we offer him on
occasions of this kind. Here he can
see why we celebrate. He can see the
neighborIy, friendly feeling that pre-
walls in every community. Here he
can mingIe with people i'll every walk
of life. He learns to know US as We
are. He sees US when we have for a
time thrown off the burden of bust
ness and meet and mingle on COM
mon plane He forms lasting friend
ships. In short. he becomes Amer
icanized. He assumes the robe Of SOW
ereign and disCards the garb or VaSsal-
He no longer believes any man was al
vinely appointed TO rule any other
man. He is ready to die for his
adonted country. And today side by
side on the battle ground of justice
stand American troops descended from
English. Irish, German and Austrian
narents No drawer soldiers, no SOL
diers with a more united purpose, no
truer comrades can be found than
these sons of other nations VINO nave
adopted the stars and stripes as their
standard. Side by side, heart 10 heart
will the German-American and the
loved land. There will be no hyphen
when the call is issued. They will
all show the same sturdy, hearty, pa
triotic qualities that have always
marked the American soldier. 1nere
will be but one tongue, one flag, one
country.
Our Duty as Citizens.
.'Our duty as citizens is not SOIL
tarv one. 1t is connected with all the
duties that belong to us as men Inc
civil. the social, the Christian virtues
are requisite TO render US worthy the
CONTINUATION of that government which
IS the freest on earth. Americans,
Won are the most privileged people
that the sun shines on You live I'M
der the 0nIy government that ever
existed which was framed by the unre-
strained and deliberate consultations
Of the people. Miracles do not Gus
ter. That which has happened put
once in 1000 years cannot be expected
10 happen often Such government
once gone might leave a void 10 De
filed, for ages, with reVoiutloh anu
tnrnuft. riot and despotlsm-
Unhappy Europe; the Judgment OF
God rests hard upon thee Thy SUI
ferinRs would deserve an Angels pity
If an angels tears could WASH away
tbv crimes. The eastern continent
Seems trembling on the brink OF some
great catastrophe Commissions shake
and terrors alarm it Ancient systems
ore falling: works reared by ages are
f~~umblfue into atoms: lives, families,
homes are being sacrificed. Let US
humbly implore heaven that the WIDE
spreadfng desolation may never reach