St. Paul tidende. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1902-1928, 1918-03-01
life becomes one-sided and narrow.
Herein lies a danger 10 our national.
Life. If hsdescendants nf 9TH

cI pCOple III OuI lHluSt we are
brought in contact with their life,
danger can be avoided.
Through them avenues can be
opened for US to the spiritual life
Of other peoples in distant lands,
which will aid in the development
Of a healthful national life in Amer
lea.
But this requires, Of course, that
such descendants have maintained a
knowledge Of their peoples langu-
age, literature, and life, so that
they not only understand it, but
can interpret it to us. Efforts by
them in this direction should, there
fore, not be discouraged, but the
best interests Of United States re-
quire that they be encouraged.
The reported use, in some in
500 -ETEr-taEa
stances, of the German language to
the entire exclusion of our common
language in the education of Amer
ican-born. children, so that they can
barely read English though 16
years old, should certainly be con-
demned, and shows laxity by state
officers in the enforcement of our
compulsory educational laws; but it
should not mislead us to condemn
a proper use by parents, and teach
ers they employ, Of their mother
tongue in the education Of their
children.
The State should insist upon an
education for all of its children,
SO arranged that they may reach at
least a certain proficiency in our
common language, American histo.
ry, ETC., and should provide oppor-
tunity for further advanced studies.
But | am firmly convinced, that ii
will be of enormous detriment to
the future national life of United
States if, during the present excit-
ing times, we lose our balance Sc
far, as to adopt a hostile attitude
to the use Of other languages be-
sides English in our national life.
The adoption Of the following
resolution is therefor to be regret
ted:
"Be it Resolved, That the Ne
braska State Council of Defense
earnestly requests that no foreign
language shall be taught in any
Of the private or denominations
schools Of Nebraska, and that all
instruction, whether secular OF
religious shall be given in the
English language"
1t is important, of course, to the
future welfare of the United States,
that a harmonious national feeling
be called forth among it's citizens
so that we are animated by a ferv-
ent love for this nation and its fu-
ture. In this respect we must not
breed hyphenated citizens; that is,
persons with American citizenship
but with loyalty divided between
this and another nation.
But a diversified national life,
where descendants of various peop-
les meet for a full and free develop
ment of the best that is in them,
rounded out and enriched by con-
tact with each other, is not a hind
rance to a united national feeling.
1t may offer difficult problems, of
the kind that always follow free
dom Of life,N but it offers also the
prospect of a healthful development
and a glorious future for this re-
| yield to no native born Amer
lean in love for America, its past
and future, but I cherish in my
heart also strong feelings for the
spiritual life of my Danish ancest-
ors, from which I hold inheritances
that have enriched my life.
To use these in~heritances and
perpetuate them in my children, so
that they may use them to enrich
their life, and the life of these
United States, this l consider my
solemn obligation to them and to
this, my country.
These affections, for America
and for the spiritual inherjtances
from my ancestors, do not in the
least conflict, just a love for moth
er does no conflict with love for
wife; on the contrary, they enrich
~ l.-.-l l. .--- raa - -...--.--