Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1919-10-09
We Must Fight For True Anericanis1n
BY J. BURKE, c. &

ton has seen and is still seeing service
at home and abroad
Every intelligent and patriotic Amer
lean sees today that these services,
harnessed for work in the war. ought
not to be strapped, but should serve
in the future just as capably as In the
past. We all know our strength the
better. and we all feel under the urge
Of the new Americanism that we ought
10 use it to the full. II victory is not
70 be lost we must keep up the fight
for true American principles We must
wipe out the poisonous imported prn-
ciples. We must make Of our new
corners intelligent, capable citizens.
The Catholic body is close to these
questions. No church has weathered
so many storms: no church has so Of
ten spoken on world problems. The
program of Social Reconstruction. is
sued by the National Catholic War
Council, Is an index Of what the ac-
ion and leadership Of the Catholic to-
LAY will be. Problems of labor and
apital. AmcricaniZation. social better
nent. child tabor, community welfare.
he increased importance Of the posi-
ton of women, the necessity OF clas-
steal and technical education, housing
conditions, the well-being of boys and
girls-all these should receive careful
attention and warrant the continuation
of the National Catholic Welfare COun-
Gil
In the meeting Of the bishops Of the
entire country at Washington Ameri-
cans will witness the greatest Catholic
gathering since the Plenary Council of
Baltimore in 1884. In it experienced,
patriotic men will give heart and soul
TO American problems. They will try
TO plan so that by solving these prob
lens the United States may be made
stronger, 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, a more unself-
ish consideration If every mans rights
and advantage" asserts this new PAM
phlet under the heading THE Needs Of
| the People" Each citizen Is respOn-
| sible for the conduct of the Govern
ment. He is part Of the state, not
merely subject Of it. The Govern
ment is his. II it is bad it is his fault.
He has put power into the wrong
hands"
THE first duty of every citizen is to
vote at every election" 1t is declared
in chapter on 1.-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. II 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 to vote wisely, and
he should take the time, above all
things, to learn about the men who are
to be voted for as public officers. He
should follow only those leaders who
are true to the peoples interest"
After sketching the rise of democ-
racy in this country and the part taken
in 1t by various foreign leaders the
pamphlet says: 1.-THE European strug-
gle for liberty Is marked oftentimes
by terrible injustice. by disrespect 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 a
noteworthy and terrible example Of
lfcense-not liberty-in Russia today.
All these attempts are endeavors after
liberty and In that measure are praise
worthy. When they grow to lawless-
ness they must be condemned by every
lover Of democracy"
Millions Of copies Of this patriotic
primer win be printed and distributed
not only in the channels Of this civic
education campaign Of the National
Catholic War Council. but through ev-
cry civic agency in the work Of which
i