Askov American., 1919-10-09
We Must Fight For True An1ericanism
sy aEv John J. BURKE

ZION has seen and is still seeing service
ut home and abroad.
Every intelligent and patriotic Amer
lean sees today that these services.
harnessed for work in the war. ought
not 10 be scrapped, hut should serve
IN the future just as capably as in the
uast. We al! know our strength the
better. and we all feel under the urge
II the new Americansm that we ought
10 use il 10 the full Tf victory is not
ro be lost We must keep up the fight
for true American principles we must
wipe our the poisonous imported prin-
rinlas. We must make Of our new
con1ers intelligent. capable citizens
The Catholic body is close to thes..
questions. No church has weatherad
so many storms no church has so Of
ten spoken on world problems. The
program Of Sociai Reconstruction, is
sued by rhe National Catholic War
council, Is an index Of what the ac-
ion and leadership Of the Catholic TO-
'ay will he Problems Of labor and
anital American i@arion, social better
nant, child labor. Immunity welfare.
he Increased importance Of the posi-
non of women, the necessity OF clas-
steal and technical education, housing
conditions, the well-being Of boys and
g!rFs-aH these should receive careful
attention and warrant the continuation
Of the National Catholic Welfare Coun-
ell
IN the meeting OF the bishops OF the
enrire country at Washington Anleri-
cans viii witness the greatest Catholic
gathering since the Plenary Council Of
Baltimore in 1854 In it experienced.
patriotic men will give heart and soul
10 American problems They will try
to nlan sn that hv solving these prob
lens the United States may be made
stronger. a better and more prosper
Gus nation than ever before.
TO advance their own interests at the
expense Of the people"
Democracy requires of each man a
great respect for order, more unself-
. q
and advantage" asserts this new pam
phlet under the heading The Needs OF
the People Each citizen Is reSpon-
sihle for the conduct Of the Govern
ment. He is part Of the state, not
merely a subject OF it. The Govern
ment is his. If ii is bad it is his fault.
He has put power into the wrong
hands,
':'rhe first duty OF every citizen is to
vote at every election" it is declared
in chapter on The Citizens Part"
He has no right TO shirk this simple
duty. No one has right to complain
about how things are done il he fails
to vote. 1t is not fair play TO the rest
OF the people when any man does not
help TO do the work which benefits all.
Every citizen should study public
questions enough 70 vote wisely. and
he should take the time, above all
things, 10 learn about the men who are
TO be voted for as public officers. He
| should follow only those leaders who
are true 70 the peoples interest"
After skerching the rise Of democ-
racy in this country and the part taken
in II by various foreign leaders the
pamphlet says The European strug-
gle for liberty Is marked oftentimes
by terrible injustice, by tisrespect for
law. by public disorder and public dis
aster. In its history injustice is often
revenged BY injustice, not overcome
by equality Of opportunity. We see
noteworthy and terrible example of
license-not i!berry-in Russia today.
All these attempts are endeavors after
liberty and In that measure are praise
worthy. When they grow to Iawless-
ness they must be condemned by everv
lover OF democracy
Millions Of copies Of this patriotic
primer win be printed and distributed
not only In he channels Of this civic
education campaign Of the National
Catholic War Council, but through ev-
cry civic agency In the work Of which
IL would nrnva ~ vaIuo