Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-08
A Plea for the FOreiun-Born
By G. s. STRANDvOLD.

The case of the foreign-born has
been presented to the court Of public
opinion in America. but the pleas adj
vanced have nearly all been on the
part Of the plaintiff; whenever the
defendant attempted to secure q
hearing he was derided. scoffed at
and made the target Of the most adj
visedly or carelessly insulting re-
marks ever heard in this country.
Every dog has his day, and even
the foreign-born is entitled Ito a fair
hearing.
Much Of the loud talk against the
~foreign-born in the United States is
based on characteristic misunder-
standing and lack Of correct infor-
nation. Some Of it is designedly ma
licious and betrays the presence Of a
vast amount Of narrow.minded
A Fact Often Forgotten.
The remark most, frequently heard
in discussion of the fo~reign-born Is
This is but qualified truth, for these
people have their. life, their traditions,
inherited traits. etc, from their ma
tive lands. In certain European
countries they enjoy the same meas
ure Of political and personal liberty
as people do in this country. This
fact Is often lost sight Of, and it is
rarely recalled what America owes
her immigrants. a> :
It is but right that Europeans who
settle in the United States become
citizens of this country. And yet
how few, how very few, Americans
living abroad change their citizen
ship? So few, in fact, that when the
late William Waldorf Astor and
Henry James; Jr., became naturalized
British citizens, a hue and cry was
raised in this country which a still
be heard. this a fact, known to ev-
in Europe that exceedingly few Amer
leans living there ever change their
citizenship, and at nome they are
praised for this persistent American
attitude. s.
Averse to Display.
The immigrant who becomes a cit-
izen Of the United States pays a COM
.pliment to this country by thus show
ing his utmost confidence in its in
situations. He is loyal and devoted to
America, not because a certain form
al document requires it. but because
it is a natural inclination with him.
tbs majority of Immigrants in the
United States are no o loyal and
patriotic in time Of wal than in time
of peace, for even under normal on
dit;ons their loyalty and patriotism
are of so high an order that there
is. room for no further improvement.
stood, for some native Americans are
apt to interpret waving of flags.
wearing of badges, much shouting,
ETC., as true signs of patriotism, where
the foreign-born very, very often 10
-averse to making any ostentatious
display of his emotions. Most Euro
peans have been brought up in the
belief that love of country is az sa-
cred rs is conjugal love, and they
own true nature IL they stand on the
street corners discoursing noisily on
the quality Of ceilings which are
their most 'treas.N ed possessions.
Many races, the Scandinavians, for
instance. feel absolutely foreign to the
idea. Of advertising their innermost
feelings to the world at large. And
ed again and again in time of peace,
as well az in time Of war, that these
very races are inJno sense tagging be-
hind when it comes to a test Of 10y.
atty to the United States Today,
many thousands Of these people and
their sons are bleeding on the battle
fields under the Stars and Stripes,
anu uney .Dloe0 as WllilnSly ana as
readily as soldiers Of older American
stock. They simply fight-and don't
ltak about it They give their all
and expect no broadcast advertising
OF the fact. They 5loye Anerica-
and insist that outward show is no
indication Of the genuineness Of the
passion dominating their hearts.
Repression Of Languages.
And still there have been seen In
stances in this country where meth
DDS are applied which would nut even
the most reactionartly bureaucratic
Prusslan state official to shame. The
campaign which 10 just now being
waged with no government approy-
al, however) against foreign, Ian.
guages An America 10 more Prusstan
than anything eve attempted In
Prussia. In Germany OF today news
papers are printed In foreigfk Ian.
guages French, Danish, POLISH, and
the authorities plead no excuses for
being able to control this part. OF
the press. They employ the very oh.
|vtous and effective remedy Of appoint,
ing ensor who are familiar With tha
But In America the
amazing plea Il mAde thaA Il IL iYn-
possible to control the foreign-lan-
guage press bscauss 81 cannot bs un-
|derstood.
The governor 81 lows has prohfb-
Fited the use Of foredSn IangusGes IN
|chuscheA. schooaAy tslsphon4 eonver-
Zd@AF-tfHt LHAHsfse.--tl