South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-26

ty and the pursuit Of happiness and to
such ends the freedom Of speech. the press, and
worship. with the privilege OF assemblage for
every legitimate purpose, are consututionally in
violabe
AS long as a man follows due process of law.
would have his ideas and ideals practcalized by
way of the ballot box, following the channels of
American law-making processes, then when a law
IS once made, respects and obeys until when
found unsatisfactory 1t can be changed,-he is a
pretty good American citizen, and it pretty well
covers the ground to what Americanism
amounts
These the fundamental American ideals;
government by the consent of the governed
majority rule being the dominant force-a sys-
tenn that anticipates equal rights for all and spe-
oial privileges to none; even permitting advocacy
of changes in such benehcent plan Of civic
association, so long as due process of law is
contemplated as the means Of efecting each
change
1t isn't necessary to be republican. nor is it
necessary to be democrat nor impossible to be
a socialist and be an American.
Amercansm Is not economic system nor
an ind ustrial system. a social system nor
scarcely political system. It is an ideal based
upon the equal rights OF the people with the ma
iority the directing power. to decide upon an
economic system, industrial system a social
system, and political system all agreeing to re-
spect them in conduct. despite dissatisfactions
pending changes, this including the right TO effect
sui
sirable.
In other words ,Amercanisn is spirit that in
spires every true American to respect the rights
of others while expecting respect for his own
rights, these basis oi equality-such respect
meaning an equal exchange of permissions and
privileges of exercises within the prescribed
bounds of laws, evolved by way Of the ballot
box
These things are mentioned by way of preface.
in view of the accompanying letter-which calls
for an answer with both hands.
III
THEODORE Roosevelt as n American also
L a partisan, and m intense partisan, but an
American He also a nationalist. and in
tense nationalist, which too many people, includ-
ing himself sometimes mstook for all there is to
Amercanism.
He was the author OF new nationalisrn.'
back in the early part OF tlis decade, quite is
sue seven years ago. same IS Woodrow Wilson's
new freedom" has TO be something of
issue.
New naionalism," then however. tended
toward a strong Capitalization of govern
ment particularly in Washington, and in the
states through the short ballot centralizng in the
governor
Under that new nationalism' there would be
a considerable broadening of federal powers, and
gradual obliteration of state lines.
1t has its merits; lots of them. Il was not until
the war broke out in Europe, however and the
anti-American ro-Germanism here in this coun-
try that Roosevelt's new nationalism' broad
ened into an insistence upon true Americanisn-.
Assuredly he was of the first to take his
cue as to the fast approaching dangers of hyphen-
ism. and to his new nationalism he added
Americanisn. denouncing divided allegiances on
every hand.
He was the one man in the republican party in
1916, and the only one of importance, who had
the nerve and the true Americanism to stand out.
even on the stump during the campaign, against
the German American alliance with the republic
an party. by which the pro-German vote was to
go to Charles Evans Hughes
True. in doing that, he did not support Wood
row Wilson either. except by ndirection. He
thought Wilson was too easy with the Germans
and liked to tell what he would have done.
Hughes liked to tell what Roosevelt would have
done. too. but one ever got MIR Hughes to go
OF record as to what he himself would do.
Throughout the 1915 campaign anti-hyphen-
ism was the Rooseveltian hobby. and though he
campaigned for republican candidates. he had to
borrow his platform material from the democrats
there being no Americanization plank in the
republican platform and for very obvious
son
"HHphenism he said at Battle Creek. is that
antifhesis of Americanism which we cannot
longer tolerate whether it be German, Polish.
Irish. Austrian. Hungarian. Scotch. British Cana
dian. Swedish. Spanish or Russian. To be an
American you must be al-American, cognizant
of American ideals and Institutions and alleg-
lance sworn and If you are not these first last
and always do not want you
Go back Co back Co back Co way
back and sit DOWN.
THAT is the Roosevelt brand of Americanisrn;