New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-11-09
DO AMERICANS need
ANERICANIzING?
Average Citizen Takes His Good
Fortune as Matter Of Course

lOlCSu upon our aJtGntlOn that there
is need of nationa lizing and Ameri-
canlzing the native born, although
there has been a general tendency to
think of the procedure as pertaining
only to those who are not native
born. characterization must be re-
garded as a basic and fundamental
form of preparedness. There is moth
ing in the location Of birth alone to
guarantee that a person will be in
fiuenced and disposed to direct his
conduct and thinking as a good Am
erican should, merely because born
on American soil. If we wish to
shape ones general conduct, we must
exercise control over the situations
that determine it. My point may be
illustrated in the extreme form by an
incident at Camp Kearney, Cal, as
related in the National Geographic
magazine for August, 1918. A re
cruit, who had been in camp seven
months, but who had lived all his
life in New Mexico, was asked how
long he had lived in the United
States. He replied seven months. To
the question of previous residence,
he replied, New Mexico. He did not
even associate New Mexico with the
United States. This is not SO rare q
fact as it will seem to some Of us.
Localism Threatens NationalisTa.
It is a fair question to ask how we
are to nationalize our native-born
American into doing his duty, and &C
cepting his responsibility, keeping tho
welfare of~the nation always i'm mind.
Tho average American is too thor
oughIy localized. File does not think
nf n
liticolly, ho is attached to his own
neigh Dorhood just as he is socially.
His viewpoint is narrow and section
Al. HI" loyalties to partisan, sectar-
ian local, Or group interests are fire.
quently more vivid and real than are
those interests that make for internal
unity and national solidarity. The
serious fact is that such loyalties
cannot safely replace the larger and
patriotic ones, for such is the oppor-
tunity of the demagogue. The diVi-
sions of loyalty and the separation Of
people along lines Of class conscious
ness are very undemocratic. IF the
people are to rule In this land, then
the larger and higher nature of the
individuals must guide, for the same
individuals will form the mob when
their lower natures and group jeal-
ousies rule. 1t must never be forgot
ten that the same persons may con-
stitute the people or the mob accord
ing as reason or blind impulse pre-
dominates. Often the appeal of the
local politician is neither for, of, or
by the people; but it is to the mob.
The social and political health of
our dem ocracy must depend upon the
average busin ess man in his plant,
the average official in his office, and
the average citizen in his home, who,
by employing and supporting wise
leadership, are the real custodians of
democracy. They tend to make it
the progress of all through all, I'M
der the leadership of the best and
wisest." But there are three essen
tails to be acquired: Individual eff
cheney, team work, and a national
spirit and point of view. And it is a
tremendous task to develop a social
understanding on the part of the in
dividual large enough to grasp ma
tionai issues in all their Importance.
Ideals Are Often Left to Chance.
Many OF our native-born young
men are the victims of an optimism
that has been Indifferent to civic and
personal obligation. SO long as their
PRIVILEGES have not been limited. They
arc prompt with excuses and self
justification in the desire to seem in
dependent, even at the expense Of
efficiency, reliability, courtesy, or fl
deity. When these young men reach
the age OF twenty-on they are per-
mitted to register in a routine sort of
way, much as they would apply for
is
no pledge, no fornlaiity to make
memorable in their minds the time
when they cast their first vote, and
became citizens of America in the
legal sense. Their loyalty their al
legiance TO the United States, and
their belief in democracy are taken as
matters Of assumption. They can
hardly be- blamed If later they regard
voting itself as a bother when 1t IN
terferes with a holiday, for they have
not learned that "the GROWING fact,
the kingiiest act Of freedom is the
freemaa's vote" viii anyone COM
m end this as a fitting way to make an
American?
Nativtsm May &c Hostile TO Ameri-
canisIn.
Can we ever hope to become a
strong nation SO long rs the native
born holds or regards himself as po-
liticaily separate from the foreign
born? That air of untustified super
iority of the native born ts based OH
q nativisn, that sees only partially
and faces the past, Americanism
faces the future. and regards the col
leetiye whole, The former is exclu-
sivs and unprogressive: the latter Is
n arm arratio and boDefui The pOlit-
feal and economic exploitation as
praetieed by the native American has
had the effect of misrepresenting our
country to the newcomer and of
making him suspicious of those who
profit by his handicaps, Accordingly,
barrier is erected and perpetuated,
lei dnns No