Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-06-12
@sThe Melting Pot''
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY REV W. j. sUcKow AT THE EVEN
1G SERVICE, SUNDAY, JUNE 9TH, 1918.

pared so that we can make the weight
of our power felt.
Just so it has been with this melting
pot business. We were told, and we
assumed with the utmost complais-
ance that it was so, that no matter
who might come to our shores, Hunk
les, Sheenies, Dagoes or Dutchmen-no
matter with what notions, ideas or
sentiments they might come-no mat
ter in what numbers they might come
all that needed to be done was to
dump them all heterrogeniously into
the great American melting pot, let
them stew for a little while over the
flames of American patriotism, and
they would all come out with every
vestige of foreignism sloughed off,
full-fedged Americans, ready to fight
at the drop of the hat for the star
can air, to plunge into American life,
to come in contact with American in
stitutions, was supposed to have some
sort of transforming magic in it. In
a little while all these foreigners
would imbibe the American spirit, lose
all the old loyalties, sentiments and
traditions, and be Yankee-Doodled
into staunch, loyal citizens of the
great republic.
1t was beautiful theory, this of the
American melting pot. 1t has only one
defect: the pot hasn't melted as we
thought it did. Now that the war has
stirred up it's contents, we find it con-
tains some big Jumps of undissolved
material, as foreign in substance, as
alien in composition, as if it had new
er been in the melting pot at ALL
In other words, the war has reveal
ed the presence in this cuontry of
large element Of population, whether
naturalized citizenship or not, who in
their feelings, sympathies and purpos-
es are as alien to our American in
situations, our American spirit, our
American ideals, as if they had never
lived on American soil at all.
Because we are at war with Ger
many, it is the alien element in our
German population which has been
shown up. But have no doubt that,
if we were at war with Russia, Pol
and, Sweden. or any other country
from which we have large immigra-
ton, the same disloyal elements would
appear among the representatives of
these nations.
The war has brought us face to face
with the fact that the great American
melting pot has not done its work with
any such degree of thoroughness as
we supposed. A large part of our
American population, even of our
American citizenship, is not American
lied.
How do we know this? Well, in the
first place, the secret service agencies
of our government estimate that there
are over hundren thousand German
spies in this country, active in every
way they dare to be, transmitting in
fomenting labor troubles among our
workmen,, blowing up munitiOn fac
torirs, bridges and other property of
military value, and seeking by con-
slant propaganda of lying and decep-
ton to weaken and break down the
fighting morale of the American peo-
pie. Who are these German spies?
Men and women sent over here by the
kaiser since the war began? Not so;
but men and women who came to this
n
come, some Of whomswere born here,
many of whom are Citizens, natural
lied or native, but who in heart and
purpose are still subjects of the kai-
ser instead of true citizens of our
commonwealth.
And yet these German spies form on
ly small section of the dislOyal ele-
ment in our midst. There are hum
dreds of thousands of others, who, al |
though not actively hostile to this |
country, are nevertheless indirectly
giving aid and comfort to the enemy |
by refusing to do anything for this
country. They attend no patriotic
they show no interest in the
American cause, they have no enthu-
siasm for it and do nothing to kindle
such enthusiasm in others. If they |
buy l. Liberty bond or make a Red
Cross donation, it is with a sullen |
protest in their hearts. And if their
sons have been drafted into the army |
it makes them only more bitter against
the government for taking their sons.
AS individuals they may be quiet