The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-27
low 1T WAS DONE.
n American.

e can be no QOuDt lHal III lno
Pof every American there is d
D6f ancestral blood. Nor is this
4 I'm patible with genuine devotion
10 the United States. Our population
= OF one hundred million is even at best
but an aggregation of immense EU-
ropean colonies Of the first, second
or third generation.
Of course, a man loves the place
where he was born. not only TIE
country but the State, the city, III"
street. even the house and the very
room, indeed the very bed. 1t is =,
mystical attachment for that combin-
alton Of circumstances which gave
the ego that is within him its firs-
apDearance.
But in addition to the place CT his
own birth there is call of blood in
Americans whose voice becomes ar
tieulate whenever the native place OF
his ancestors is attacked. to be deaf
to which would prove him unworthy
of the love of those who love him.
Therefore. in this American nation
which is but of yesterday, next to the
love We have for it, for the flag OF
our country, and its institutions,
there is necessarily a preference for
the land from which We sprung. That
sentiment does not and should not
abridge the patriots devotion for his
native land. We do and We should
love America first, with an al! en-
bracing loyalty. and should be glad
TO lay down our lives for it.
Surely no true American would
hesitate to throw his body across the
path OF an enemy who came to de-
spoil our land or destroy our institu-
tions.
Three years ago, while all Ameri-
/ cans had an active love for this, our
B-eountry, they also had a legitimate,
uuiescent love for the land Of their
forbears. But there was probably no
feeling of animosity against any Eu-
ropean nation, or perhaps any ma
ton, with the possible exception OF
Japan. The last country in the world
that we would have thought of fight
ing was Germany.
We have had repeated clashes with
England, two wars and many dlpio-
matte controversies, at times threat
ening war, such as in the cases Of
Venezuela and the Bhering sea.
But on the whole the American peo-
pie for long time have haa no feel
ing against England and attributed
disputes merely to the inevitable re-
suit of worldwide British dominion.
making it natural that as England
had so many points of contact, this
contact led to controversy.
This was the state of mind of the
American people three years ago,
when the war broke out. Germany
and England were locked in mortal
combat, about the merits of which
America had opinions. but with the
outcome of which they had no prl-
mary concern.
At this point, however, we began
30 obseI,e the "call of that blood"
which, as we said, is under the skins
of all Americans Unfortunately for
Germany, the Germans in this coun-
try had never sought political prefer
ment to any great extent. The Whoie
machinery of government was in the
hands of the so-called "Anglo-Sax-
ON, branch of our population.
The president issued his neutra'i-
ty proclamation, but it was clear
from the beginning that his heart
beat in unison with the blood which
flowed through it, which was British,
pure and simple He had selected a
cabinet, net one member of which
was of German extraction or sympa-