New-York tribune., 1918-03-10

cut; but only one or two need to be
mentioned here.
A Foreign Body
lransplanted
In the first place, what a revelation
Is set before us as to the type of the
present Socialist vote in this country,
so Tar as it has manifested itself in
the greatest city of the nation. This
party as now constituted is an almost
completely foreign organization, con-
hned all but exclusively to persons of
partlcuIar foreign origin; unsympa-
thetic with, and unresponsive to, Amer
lcan life and Institutions; unable to
understand them. and unable to have
Il constructive part in their movements,
and IN turn disclaimed by citizens un-
luallliedly and avowedly American.
Whatcver arr j. ont gains 1t has are de-
f.yrd from the one and at the expense
of the other.
Inc Socialist party as it now stands
is thus Of definitely foreign importa-
ton, and without power to secure
foothold on really American soil Not
only this, but at the present hour, when
our nation in the course of a few
months Is becoming more "socialized."
ana is making more rapid strides in the
wealth than it has in all its career be-
fore, the Socialist party finds itself re-
fused hearing, and rejected by the
people OF our country a. a whole. What
is now left Of the Socialist party or
ganization is in the hands of body of
men who know not America and by it
are not known.
In the second place, what a commen-
tary there Is presented upon our i'm
Is not race or nationality concerned
which, in restricted numbers, and
spread over the land, could not have
contributed much to it, and could not
have helped us, and could not have in
turn been greatly helped by US
One of the best evidences Of this is
found in the efforts of not few indi-
viduals Of the groups referred to, who
struggled against the tide nobly and
who! -souledly, and with but one coun-
try IN mind.
Yet we have allowed, if not com
PEELED, these peoples coming to us to
mass themselves in the slums Of our
cities-for almost all of whom mention
has been made have for greater or
less period of time been dwellers there
of-where they see the worst we have
to show and give, where they speak
alien tongues and think alien thoughts,
where the light of American standards,
ciples, aims and ideals does not
break through, a section indeed apart
from the life of the nation, and not
unready to do it iii should the occa-
sion fall.
Nor during these years have we
given concern whether it were possible
Tor us TO assimilate in our body polite
all the races and nationalties pouring
in upon our shores, or whether any
real and effective means were on foot
for the accomplishment of such a task.
| We have forgotten that ever since
! America became nation, democracy
has been on trial, and that in attempt
ing to graft upon a people elements
which are often, especially in such
heavy quantities, to be fused only with
very great difficulty, we are placing
tremendous obstacles in its path. The
blame rests wholly upon our shoulders.
We, the people of the country at large,
have, for one reason or another, not
given full thought, or even heed to the
matter
Possibly in the present situation we
are but reaping the inevitable fruit Of
our statesmanship. 1t may be doubted
whether there have been any occur
rences in American political life Of
more ominous import than the vote
which we have been considering. 1t
represents an element essentially and
distinctly alien-one that is furthest
removed from, if not in fact largely
untouched by, American hopes and po-
litical ideals, and one that has without
question already, abroad no less than
at home, worked us harm, in the pres
ent world war
Only the future historian can de-
termine how near we came to seeing
the rendering of positive aid to the
enemy, and only he can set down with
any degree of precision how great was
the peril, both to America and its insti-
/ tutions. and to civilization.