The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-07-12
F0RE|GN-BORN
SHOW LOYALTY
Man of Belgian Birth Responds to Will
sons Address.

Washington, July speaking for
American citizens of thirty-three ma
tionalities in response to President
Wilson's address at Mount Vernon to-
day, Felix j. Streychmans Of Chicago,
of Belgian birth, pledged the nations
foreign-born to persevere in the strug-
gle for liberty until freedom is secur-
ed for America, the nations from which
they sprung and all the world.
"To this shriSnloS the American peo-
ple,n he 81 s0Jfthe mortal remains
to ths me -.AmerteasnFage than any other,
we have come today, bearing. our hum
BILE tribute as citizens Of the great re-
public. You, yourself, Mr.. President,
have acceded to our request that this
independence day be designated as a
festival of loyalty on the part Of our
foreign-born citizens and of their sons
and daughters. 1t is for me, repre-
senting the committee Of pilgrims, to
tell you what it means to US.
zone hundred and forty-two years
ago today, group of men animated
with the same spirit as that of the man
who lies here, founded the United
States of America on the. theory of
free government with the consent of
the governed. That was the Degln-
ming of America. AS the years went
on, as one century blended with anoth-
er men and women came from even
the uttermost ends of the earth to
icin them. We have called them alien;
but they were never alien. Though
they spoke not word Of the language
of this country, though they CROPPED
only darkly toward its institutions.
!, they were already Americans in soul
or they would never have come.
"We are the latest manifestation OF
that American soul. And scarcely had
!, we settled ourselves into the structure
!, of this dear country of our adoption
when we found the spirit of Washing
. ton now blazing up to the guiding
: light of twenty organizations, assailec
; as never before by the sinister forces
of reaction. Autocracy, in its most
! murderous form, had gathered itsel1
! for its final struggle. With the sou
! Of Washington leading on Americs
: entered the battle line, and we, in 9
: spirit of solemn gladness entered with
her.
. I'VE who made this pilgrimage, are
7 the offspring of thirty-three different
: nations-and Americans all. W.
come not alone. Behind us are mil
5 lions of our people, united today il
) pledging themselves to the cause o.
this country, and of the free nations
i with which she is joined. In my owl
] city eight hundred thousand foreign
born men and women are at this mo
:, ment lifting their hands and renewing
|, their vows of loyalty. From coast t
: coast, in city, town and hamlet, ou
citizens will be demonstrating tina
:, the oath which they took upon thel
: naturalization was not an empty form
$ of words. Yes, and more than that
!. when tomorrow the casualty list bring
:, heaviness to some homes and a tirp
}, sense of resolution to all, we shal
!. read upon the roll of honor Slavi
names, Teutonic names, Latin names
!. Oriental names, to show that we hav
/, sealed our faith with the blood Of on
: best youth.
ITO this beloved shade we come to
!. day with the hopes Of our races gath
! cred in our hands. To you, worth,
{. successor of our great liberator, W
give the prmise Of the millions VIII
: sent us here that we will persevere ]
+, the struggle until lasting freedom
|. secured not only for this nation bu
for the nations from which we spran
+ -yes, and for all the other nations