American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-05-03

ia tut kltdi AllltAlNAn fanny ~ VI
Itself Is not a reflection upon a mans
loyalty because ne clings to his native
tongue. and yet l believe those who
have made SO little effort TO lose their
identity as persons Of foreign birth
that they have not learned u Lam
guage. have In part missed the full
meaning OF the invitation the statue
OF liberty held out 10 them. That in
yitation was e come and assimilate
with us as Americans. to forget their
allegiance TO the customs and the life
Of their native lands. To become
Americans. not only in their sympa-
thies. In their hearts. but in their
customs and their language. / think
n In pitlable that there are men IN this
county who cannot tell from day to
day whether their sons now lighting
under Pcrahing are among the slain
and wounded without the aid OF an in
tsrpeter to read for them. / do not
question the loyalty OF anyone merely
because he speaks nothing but an
enemy tongue, but on the other hand
how can he expect 10 lose his identity
as foreign born II he will not learn to
use that great language In which was
set down the most wonderful politi-
cal document ever written, which
onunciates the principles that protect
him and give him freedom. the con
siitution OF the United States.
One OF the things brought out by
this war Is In general the loyalty OF
the German born citizens; OF course.
among all peoples there are some
black sheep but II you will stop to
figure the disloyal ones against the
loyal you will not be d~ownhearted.
One OF the greatest decisions OF the
kaiser was that practically all the
German born over here we're still Ger
mans and not Americans. He, or one
Of his puppets. said TO our ambassador
that the SOC. 900 German army reserves
here would take care OF US II we got
into this war, and our ambassador
answered that we had 600, 0O1 lamp
posts waiting TO take care OF those
reserves. But We haven't needed
many OF those lamposts.
England and France are now fight
ing with their backs to the wall; they
are holding the line until we can
come In force. II may be a long. long
war, II may bring bereavement to
every household In this broad land. as
"a already has 10 France. But we are
lighting for the principles we have al
ways cherished. the principles that
make life worth living. We are In
this war so that we. and more espe-
cially. our children may be able TO live
In the ideals OF peace and justice.
Germany may break through u first
lines OF defense. and through our sec
ond line, and our third and our fourth.
but she Will never break through the
spirit Of the English or the French or
OF the American people.
We are met TO unveil a service flag
as a token OF our appreciation of the
things the boys are doing who have
gone and are going TO offer their lives
II need be In this holy endeayor. IL
h hitting that We should unveil and
retain as one OF our most precious
possessions such a flag whereon will
be a star TO represent each one Of
them. But the greatest token OF our
high appreciation Is to get behind
them with every ounce Of our energy
In every possible endeavor that may
help them to win this war. Every
thought and action OF each OF us should
be determined as an individual war
policy. The battlenelds OF this war
are not alone along the firing lines or
upon he seas; they extend through
out the larger part OF the whole world
today. and each OF us even here I'm
rover county Is upon a battlefield.
Our part may be but a small one. the
saving Of wheat, the giving up of the
Injuries and many OF the comforts to
which we have been accustomed. but
i means that each one OF us must con
sumo less and produce more.
We honor the boys who have gone
and are going. and we don't have to
worry about what they will do as their
share; our only concern need be as to
what those at home will do. Doesn't
u get right down to where you live to
think that some OF the Power county
boys are already over there paying
our debt to France? That some OF
them were In the Rainbow division and
we're with Pershing when he stood at
the tomb OF Lafayette last summer
and placing a wreath upon Il and
said simply. Lafayette. we are here
And that OF them we're with him
when he wen to General Foch at the
commencement OF the great battle new
IN progress and said. General, the
men who came with me came to fight.
and they and the American people will
deem II a privilege TO have a part In
this great battle" And that now ev-
en- more OF the Power county BOYS are
over there and probably are holding
their " trenches tonight.
The boys are lighting for our liber-
ties, but they are lighting for more
even than that. They are fighting in
support OF Christianity. l cannot
conceive how any Christian can be
pro-German. II he will consider the
reasons why she went 20 war. and
the methods by which she Is waging
that The Christian ideal OF self
sacrifice. OF giving up ones life in
order that others may live. Is utterly
and entirely opposed TO the German
ideal OF conquest by force and OF sac
rificing other peoples lives In order
to glorify their own.