The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
"A True American"
 Dr. George R. Stuart

"A True American" was ably de- scribed by pr. George R. Stuart in his sermon at the First Methodist church yesterday morning, this being his first sermon since his return from a two weeks vacation spent in Florida.
 While I was in Florida I spent ev- cry day knocking the poor roads in Alabama and if anybody holds good roads meeting in this city or state from now on and I can get there I will be the mule for them and do all the kick ing. While I was away l rode HOO miles in an automobile and 1000 miles of the road we travelled over was as smooth as Highland avenue I went fishing, too, and there were two par ties, one from the north and ours. The party from the north caught 2600 pounds. I watched them skin that 260O-pound fish. and the man told me that he would get enough leather out of the hide to make 80 pairs of shoes for women high enough to meet the modern styles of skirt.
 God held the people down to their building plan until they had become then he let them build their cities, and that started the world. You have got to settle yourself in the land and grow up with it. The lion in his lair and the bird in his nest will fight for their homes to their death.
 The first thing in building a nation is to have a house, own something, build something. The hope and spirit of America is that every man will bluld and own something. A man won't fight for a boarding house. he kicks it, the walls, the bed. kicks on the food and the price. man will not fight for anything that he does not own. They come from farms and go to boarding houses because they say it is cheaper. Buy cheap suit-that is cheaper than the best suit in the store, of course but it will fade the next day. Marry ana have no children; let your wife get job, make money. all because it is cheaper. Yes, it is the cheapest thing in life. What is the matter with America, anyway?
 HAS THE "SQUIRMS"
 "Why, America has the 'squirmS.' wants some place to squirm. The successful nation is the one where every fellow has the other fellow hooked on to him with home, bank account and a trade. This fellow will never start fire, or fight, or dam age anybody's property, because he owns a home, has house and land, and he does not want to start anything that might injure his own property The American citizen Is a man with home, trade and a bank account, and he is happy. That is the true American citizen.
 What does a flee care who he is on? He had as soon be on one fellow as an- other. The old pioneer registered his land. raised a large family, and it went to the children when he was gone. The real American citizen owns something. You don't want to board. Of course. 1t is expensive to keep house. to raise B family, but everything that is pre- cious costs more. You are interested where you have interests of your own.
 "BE SOMEBODY"
 eff you are an American boy or girl, the doors are wide open to you. Be somebody. Get up from there, you lazy, trifling rascal, and be somebody is the true American spirit.
 Less work and more pay is what " have home with comforts, and a good wage, and every capitalist ought to see to it that he gets it, and then the two ought to come together and be part ners in the business; that's the way to get along. I side with no one in such matters. and I don't want to be but every man when he owns home is planted. He is inter- ested in taxes, insurance, land and houses, he becomes interested in the things that go on around him and un- derstands more about the costs in- volved. He has his own fruit trees. decided difference.
 q do not believe that it is accidental that Wilson was made President, nor that he went to France. I believe that it was providence working in it all, and that God is with any nation that will make the bigger nation stop pick ing on the little nation, which is all ready downtrodden.
 '"The matter of roads. schools. cf urches being given to counties, cities and states, by citizens, is ilsh spirit of me and my wife and John and his wife. and us four and no it out. it is all wrong.
 stay by your fellow man. The fell low who wants to be somebody. stay by him. The American spirit is to ask you to come to the table and help your self-pass the visitor things, don't help first-say to him. Bill, have a tater,' and maybe he will take them all; that's all right, for that is Amer ican, too.
 God help us to be real American cit izens."