The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-09-27

But whatever ones views and feel
ings, whatever the country OF ones
birth or kin. only one course was left
for all those claiming the privilege
OF American citizenship when oy
e'c;ion OF the president and congress
the cause and the fight OF the allies
was formally made our cause and
our fight.
The duty of loyal allegiance and
faithful service 70 his country, even
unto death. rests, of course, upon
every American.
But, if ii be possible to speak Of
comparative degree concerning what
is the highest as 1t is the most ele-
mentary attribute of citizenship, that
an evep more solemn and compel
ing OBLIGATION upon Americans OF
foreign origin than upon native
Americans.
For, We Americans of foreign an
tecedeDts, are here not by the acct
dental right of birth, but by our own
free CHOICE for better or for worse.
We are your fellow citizens be-
cause you accepted our oath Of al
legiance as given in good faith, and
because YOU have opened to US In
generous trust the portals Of Amer
lean opportunity and freedom, and
have admitted US to membership in
the family of Americans, giving US
equal rights in the great Inheritance
which has been created by the blood
and the toll of your ancestors, asking
nothing from us in return but decent
citizenship and adherence to those
ideals and principles which are
symbolized by the glorious flag OF
America.
Woe to the foreign-born American
who betrays the splendid trust which
you have reposed in him!
Woe to him who considers his
American citizenship merely as a con-
yenient garment to be worn In fair
weather but to be exchanged for an
other one in time OF storm and
stressi
Woe to the German-American, So
called, who in this sacred war for a
cause as high as any for which ever
people took up Arms. does not feel
solemn urge, does not show an eager
determination to be in the very fore
front of the struggle, does not prove
a patriotic Jealousy. in thought, in
action and in speech, to rival and to
Guido his native-born feHow-citizen
in devotion and in willing sacrifice
for the country of his choice and
adoption and sworn allegiance and Of
their common affection and pride.
AS Washington led Americans OF
British blood to fight against Great
Britain, as Lincoln called upon Am
orleans Of the north to fight their
very brothers of the south, so Am.
orleans of German descent are now
summoned to join in our country's
righteous struggle against people |
of their own blood which, under the
evil spell OF dreadful obsession,
and Heaven knows, through no fault
of ours. has made itself the enemy
of this peace-loving nation. as 1t Is I
the enemy of peace and right and !
freedom throughout the world.
To gain Americas independence,
to defeat oppression and tyranny,
was indeed to gain great cause.
To preserve the union. to eradi
cate slavery was perhaps a greater
still.
To defend the very foundations OF |
liberty and humanity. the very
groundwork of fair dealing between |
nations, the very basis Of peaceable !
living together among the peoples OF |
lHe earth against the fierce and brutal |
onslaught OF ruthless, lawless. faith |
less might; to spend the lives and |
the fortunes of this generation so |
that our descendants may be freed |
from the dreadful calamity of war |
and the fear of war, so that the en-
ergies and millions and billions OF |
treasure now devoted to plans and !
instruments of destruction may be |
given henceforth to fruitful work OF |
peace and progress and to the bet |
terment of the conditions of the peo- !
ple-that is the highest cause for
which any people ever unsheathed It's
sword.
He who shirks the full measure OF
his duty and allegiance in that
noblest Of causes, be he German
IrishAm erican, or any 9TH
er hyphenated American, be he T. w
w. or socialist or whatever the ap-
pellation, does not deserve to stand !
Americans or indeed
free men anywhere
He who, secretly or covertIy, tries
to thwart the declared will and aim
Of the nation in this holy war. is a
traitor and a traitors fate should De
his.
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