Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-03
THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE
Aliens Should Fight for Amer
ica-Roosevelt's Aid
Needed
ALIENS SHOULD FIGHT
To the Editor Of the Epening Ledger:

To the Editor OF the Evening LedgeE
Sir-The eyes of every American citizen
are now set upon the alien question. What
is the status Of the aliens in this present
conflict? Are they to stand by as spec
tators in this great arena Of war and look on
with cold Indifference while young American
blood Is being shed? Are we to fight and die
to make this country safe place for the
aliens to live in? To many, as well as to
the writer such thing looks like super
burden thrown upon the American citizen.
Great is this country as n champion of
the individual rights Of its citizens, and no
less great is 1t In its protection to aliens who
come within her borders. Yet the obligation
thrust upon one is greater than that upon
the other. Thousands upon thousands of
quired fortunes, others are earning living
wage These very people enjoy the same
liberties, the same rights as citizens of
America, and yet. when the crucial moment
comes which beckons them to rally around
the flag in defense of the rights which 1t
has generously bestowed upon them, they
vanish, never to be seen until America has
once more been made safe for them.
With respect to duty, there appears no
difference to me between the man who has
lived within this country for ten years and
has become a citizen and the man who has
lived here for ten years and has not found
time to declare his intentions of becoming a
both enjoy the same rights granted by the
Constitution of the United States save the
vote in all probabilities the luck attending
the alien has been greater than that of the
citizen; still, the citizen Is called upon to
shoulder musket while the alien smiles by.
True, there are treaties hanging over our
heads which bind us not to force aliens to
bear arms in times of war but in a true
sense of the word are they aliens? Have
they not enjoyed the generosity Of the
American Constitution and Its laws? Are
they not Just as familiar with the American
ideals and have they not been the recipients
OF her big heart and giving hand? People
leaving their mother country and making
their homes here should be considered to
have expatriated themselves and transferred
Their undivided allegiance to America Ac-
cordng to such international agreements as
exist today the allen occupies most unique
position America cannot invoke his aid In
war. and II his mother country should be
engaged In a war she could not reach over
her hand into America and say. "old Glory
let me have my men to fight for me-" unless
America willingly consented. Thus they
enjoy all the advantages with no service
to render for their privileges.
Such treaties which declare that Justice
is found in laws which deny to America the
right to force aliens to defend the rights
granted to them should be abrogated, fol
they are only designed with the view &c
lessen the military power Of our nation. II
persons find America a good enough place
to live In, certainly IL is a good enough
place TO fight for and citizenship should moi
be a necessary requisite to impose such ar
obligation. HARRY A. SCHWARTZ.
Philadelphia. July 2s.