The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-25
KAHN Sees U. S. KILL
ALL PERILOUS 'ISMS'
Believes People Have Too Much
Sense to Accept Wild
Views Of Fanatics.
Special Despatch to The Sun.

PrTTsBuRo, April 24.-Otto II. Kahn,
New York banker. was one OF the speak
ers at the Founders Day exercises of
Carnegie Institute here to-day His sub
1ect was The Morning After" MI
Kahn said in part:
Even before the war a great stirring
and ferment was going on in the land
The people were cropping, seeking for a
new and better condition Of things The
war has intensified that movement.
1T has torn great assures In the an
cient structure Of our civilization. To
restore it will require the cooperation Of
all patriotic men of sane and temperate
views. whatever may be their occupation
or calling or political affiliations,
1T cannot be restored just as 1t was
before. The building must be rem
de"ed moro habitable and attractive to
those whose claims for adequate house
room cannot be left unheeded. either
Justly or safely. Some changes, essen
tisl changes, must be- made.
II have no fear of the outcome and
! of the readJustment which must come
have no fear Of the forces Of free
dora unless they be ignored, repressed or
| falsely and selhshly led.
Change American people will
make as their needs become apparent
imri ovements they welcome, the great
! est attainable we'll being for all those
| under our national roof tree u their
aim: but they will do all that in the
American way of sane and orderly
progress-and in no other. Against
foes within no less than against en-
EN- es without the American people will
ever know how to preserve and pro
tect the splendid structure OF light and
order which Is the treasured inheri-
tarce of all those who rightfully c+i,r
the name Americans, whatever their
! racs and origin.
Among the agitators and disturbers
who dare clamorously to assail the
| majestic and beneficent structures of
! American traditions. doctrines and in
stitutions there are some, far too many
| indeed say It with deep regret. being
myself of foreign blrth--who are OF for
eign parentage or descent. With many
hundreds OF thousands they or their
parents came to our free shores from
, lands Of oppression and persecution.
The great republic generously gave them
asylum and opened wide to them the
| portals Of her freedom and her oppor-
| tunities.
The great bulk OF these newcomers
| have become loyal and enthusiastic.
| Americans. when the great test OF the
! war came the overwhelming majority Of
them rang wholly and finely true. The
| casualty lists are eloquent testimony to
! the patriotic devotion OF the children
| of the crucfble,' doubly eloquent because
many Of them fought against their own
\ kith and kin.
| But some there are who have been
| blinded by the glare OF liberty. Blinded,
, they dare to aspire to force their guild
| ance upon Americans who for genera
lions have walked In the light of liberty
They have become drunk with the
strong wine of freedom. these men who
until they landed on Americas coasts
! had tasted little but the bitter water of
/ tyranny. Drunk. they presume to impose
! their Keeling gait upon Americans to
whom freedom has been n pure and re-
freshing fountain for a century and n
| half
| 'Brooding In the gloom of age.ang
oppression. they have evolved a fanta site
and distorted image OF free govern
ment In fatuous effrontery they seek
to graft the growth OF their stunted
vision upon the splendid and ancient tree
| Of American institutions.
| I'VE will not have II SO, we who are
Americans by birth or by adoption We
reject these impudent pretentions By
all means let us move forward and up
ward. but let us proceed by the chart
! OF reason, experience and tested Amer.-
! can principles and doctrines, and let US
not entrust our ship to demagogues,
! Missionaries or shallow sentimentalists
who most surely would steer it on the
| rocks"