South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-11
LESSON No. %
SOME NATIONAL TRADITIONS

deemed itself however. M the bat
tie of New Orleans. where Andrew
Jackson led the western militia 70
la well-earned victory The British
governmei tacitly recognized the
soundness Of the principle for
which the Americans fought.
The Mexican War
Americas next war was with
Mexico. The MeXicans had not been
very careful Of American rights
either in Mexico itself or aIo.g the
frontier. and the disagreeme,r FOL, TO
ownership cf a certain lars strip
OF land along the Rio Gran c easily
led 20 hostiliues In the var that
followed the armies OF Scott and
Taylor won victory after victory
against Overwhelming odds and
eventually Mexico sued for peace
one result Of the war was TO es-
tabiish more definitely the right Of
an American citizen abroad 10 a rea-
sOnable amount Of protection and
support.
Less than a generation later came
the great Civil war. Never was the
lighting spirit Of the citizen-sOldier
better shown than in this unhappy
and bitter struggle, when Americans
were pitted against Americans Both
sides were fighting for PRINCIPLES Of
government, the north for the prin-
Ciple Of union. the south for the
principle Of the right of states TO
secede from that Union Today. with
tt,
there are probably few Americans
either north or south. who do not
rejoice in their hearts that the prin
ciple Of union was upheld and that
we are able today 10 meet our new
foe as a united nation
We entered the Spanish war TO
put an end to misrule in cuba.
Again our quarrel was not with the
Spanish people. out the government,
which was creating conditions in
Cuba that we could not endure with
self-respect Admiral Cervera ana
his men, who had shown themselves
brave foes. were received in this
country after their defeat and cap
ture as guests rather than as prison
ers Their treatment was striking
evidence Of our real feeling toward
the Spanish people We fought for
the principle that on the American
continents governmental tyranny
and cruelty must not he permitted
to continue: and that principle was
esta blished.
Fighting for Principles.
The Americans are peculiarly
peace-loving people. They have no
taste for warfare and no lust for
territory or power. Yet within less
than one hundred and fifty years
we have entered six important wars,
the last and perhaps the greatest
of which is the one just beginning
against the German government
Why has all this warfare been nee
essary?
The answer is To be found in the
simple fact that there are certain
American rights and principles that
must be upheld if the United states
is 10 remain a free and self-Tespect-
ing nation These rights have never
beer attaCked-and probably never
will be attacked-by other free and
democratic peoples. But the world
is not yet rid of governments in the
hands Of small groups who betray
their own people and drive them
forward in ruthless assaults on the
freedom and rights of other peoples.
II is a government or this type that
now menaces all liberty ma
lions throughout the world and saw
aSelv attacks American rights.
I'm all our previous wars against
foreign powers the American peo-
pie have fought FOR principles, not
FOR wealth or power. just as they
are lighting today. They have fought
against governments. not against
peoples. just as they are lighting to
day They have fought fearlessly
and fairly. just as YOU and the other
American soldiers Of this war will
night.