Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-03

Americans are not volunteering for
service In the army anywhere, and
many theories are advanced In eN-
PLANTATION of tho poor showing of the
state OF New Mexico. In the eastern
states there Is general belief that
the Spanish American citizens OF this
state are more attached to Mexico
In sympathy than TO the United
states. just as II now rs certain that
large percentage of our German
American citizens feel In their hearts
first allegiance to Germany.
That there Is "a strong racial feal-
ing for Mexico. among the native
people OF New Mexico, we cannot
doubt, particularly after hearing
the mighty cheer which went up IN
tho Crystal thcater. some months
ago, whom the movies showed Santa
Ana's men breaking into the Alamo.
The cheering was by Spanlsh-Amer-
leans who were elated because of the
victory OF the Mexican army over the
little force OF American defenders,
The heroism of the Americans who
fought until the last man of them
was killed provoked no applause ex-
cept from the Americans present IN
the theater The feeling was racial
At the same time, It IL only inst to
ray that there Is probably not one
spanish American in all New Mexico
VINO would not fight against any
proposition to change the political al
leglance Of this state from the United
states TO Mexico. They all know and
appreciate tho difference between a
land ruled by law and order and a
land ruled by brute force, when
ruled az all.
But tho failure 10 respond 20 the
all OF the president has not been
confined 10 Spanish Americans and
lierman-A Americans. II has been
hown IN the young men Of colonial
parentage, as well. It pervades ey-
~ state OF the union. II has in Il
lesson which must be needed and
I'd problem which must be solved
without delay.
Why Is this dsloyalty TO the oopn-
irYg Disloyalty liz Il strong word,
nut we can use no other 80 fittinglyl
IN this connection. We hive am idea
hat the answer must be sought in
tae public schools. as well as the
remedy. Not that disloyalty Is taught
in the schools 70 be sure we have
the example OF the Spanish reader
adopted BY the board of education OF
New Moxlcn in which the characters
and abilities of General George
Washington and the South American
general, Simon Bolivar were COM
pared and contrastcd. greatly 10 the
disadvantage OF Washington. Also |
we have the example OF high eulogics
OF tho kaiser forced into the text !
books of the city OF Chicago by Ger |
mnn-American influence But az a |
rule disloyalty is not taught in our
schools Tho trouble Is that SO little /
on the subject Is taught at all
The men who went into The civil
war had been taught patriotism from
the mothers knees In the school
readers used by them and In COM
mon use in the public schools up to
twenty-five years ago, much OF the
lessons consisted Of patriotic poetry
patriotic speeches and patriotic les
sons from American history.
unr teachers and the textbook ox-
pcrts got an idea that those old pa
irlotic readers were not suited 10 the
minds Of the children, and the result
Df that idea il the adoption OF tcxt-
books, perfect in English Of course,
tut inane. There is no thrin in
hem. no inspiration. no soul.
As further result, the Fourth OF
Ialy celebrations have become emp
y form. The spread-cagle orator
nay have been good deal Of nuls-
nee. but he served splendid pur-
lose. just the same, ana should he
gain called into action His decad-
nee Il coincldent with the change !
i The teXts Of the school readers
The remedy for this is in the a
.hools Let the old, patriotic les 81
ms lie restored Let the Rotations
ia declarations again become a +,
art OF the common school system, h
ith strict observance each week T.
very patriotic sentiment memofized Il
the boy or the girl is SO much i
Ided TO the strength OF the nation I,
ID becomes part Of our national c
Tense a
In every state OF the union. there Fl
ould be compulsory military drill
on the part of every boy. physical II
and mentally component. when he o
aches the age of sixteen. That n