Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-17
I'm AMERICAN
PROUDEST CRY
HAAS ASSERTS
Veteran of FraRcO-PruSsian War
Delivers Stirring Address Be-
: lore Foreigners.
FrOQUENT PATRIOTIC TALK
hectares Cause Is JuSt-Likens Ma
ten To Rock Of Ages For
ever Enduring.

AS in the days Of Rome and Ro-
man power. mans proudest boast
vss I'm a Roman Today, the era
~ America. the most eloquent no
HE proudesr statement that man
IAN make is I'm an American, -
declared Joseph L. Haas, veteran
~ the Franco-Prussian war and
n-essnt master in ChanceTy Of Rock
island county, speaking before
about two hundred aliens at the
high school auditorium last even
ing.
But Rome. founded upon degre-
datiou. existed because OF superior
Strength. When then strength was
eapped and undermined by licen-
,iousuess. lust of power and con-
0uest. Rome could not endure. The
Greatest government the world
knew up until that period crumbled
ard disappeared because it was
built upon the shifting sands Of
might. of laws put down by the
military and mobiles, without the
consent Of the governed.
How different reads the history
Of this great land of ours. We are
all brothers in the greatest demo-
cratic institution Of the world.
Friends. when you are granted your
full citizenship privileges in the
United States of America, you be-
come a part Of the greatest govern
nent upon the face Of the globe.
You become a citizen of a ma
ton and government which will en-
6ure throughout all time, as the
Rock Of Ages. It VIII live on when
other. great peoples and dynasties
totrer and fall for it is founded
upon the basic principles Of all hu-
manity: upon love of fellow man
and full respect and realization Of
the rights Of all mankind This land
has always espoused the cause of
liberty. has been the champion of
freedom from despotism and
tyranny Of all human souls, re
gardIess Of race or caste, high or
low. whether black, yellow, red or
brown
Cry of America.
The cry Of America since the
Declaration Of Independence to the
peoples of the earth has never
changed Il is Come unto. me, We
oppressed and dOwLtrOddcn, in me
We shall find a refuge 3nd a pro
tector.' And the oppressed and
downtrodden heard and have heard
and are hearing: We come here and
We learn the teachings of this great
nation. our adopted country.
we study its glorious history,
and ponder upon the crude Illinois
+g Ina of
the gTandest figures and charac-
ters Of the land; and who was given
the highest honor that lies in the
power Of any world people TO give,
the presidency Of the United States.
So different are his utterances and
teachings from those which most of
rs left when he said, With malice
toward none and charity to all
Hard battles mark our achieve
nents. We more than any other
in existence, have a form Of gov
eminent which truly derives its just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned. Il is built upon a new the
DRY, a new doctrine; based upon
equality of birth. The sun is Tis-
ing in the west instead of the east
simply becaue our government is
founded upon the theory that all
men should be created equal The
struggle 10 establish this belief
lasted eight years.
We have only TO look at the his
tory Of the United States to be con-
vtnced that its foundation has been
, laid upon the everlasting rock of
tight and justice America has
never engaged in a war of az
gressiveness or conquest. When
this nation UnfurIed its banner and
unsheathed its sword It has been
in the cause Of right, in behalf of
the oppressed. We have always
observed the principles upon which
this nation was founded.
Have Been Patient.
an accordance with our peace
loving Chara Cteristics we expressed
great fOTbearauce toward the most
greWsO-e wrongs and violations
before We entered the great strug-
gle now being fought This war IS
the most bloody, cruel, wantOn, I'M
Just war ever f0Ught-a war bring
ing untold misery tO. all mankind !;
war which tends to wipe out
achievements and accomplishments
OF thousand years.
My country decided that the
cause Of all humanity is ours and
We unfurled our banner and IN
sheatne4 our sword. Ny country
having SO decided, ! Will back ii
WITH my life, my goods, and with
ny sacred honor"
At this juuc1ure Mr.. Haas read
Irom President Wilson's address to
congress April ., 1917. when in a
message c0ndemning Germany be-
lore the world and just as surely
sealing its ultimate fate, the presi-
cent reviewed the wrongs and
grievances wrought upon humanity
py the war mad Hun nation.
So continued Lr. Haas, "as the
ngnest authority in my country,
MS word is good enough for me.
al convinced that our cause is
most just the grandest and most
eiorlous for which man might lay
eo"u his life Il is the cause Of
democracy against uncompromising
antocraey.
Tonight you meet here as repre-
se1tallTas Of many countries, but
SEEKING citizenship in only one. the
country Of your Choice-AmeTica
mere must be none other II you
become an American citizen, and
,ofs"ear forever allegiance to the
-e4o ~ your birth, nurture no 10y
s4ty or allegiance to the land which
you have left There is but one
Tag for y.-. rH,r tL- Ct.rg and