The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
PRIMER ISSUED
FOR Foreigners
UNITED STATES

ton ia Its nation.wide fight f for civic
education of the 5000, 900 foreign-born
ana iiliterate people in the United
council today issued a patriotic primer, /
entitled The Fundamentals of Citi-
Eenship," from its headquarters in this
city. In less than fifty pages of short,
simple sentences, the history and idea
OF American democracy, as well as the
lined in this little book, with brief
explanations of such subjects as .pub-
lie education, health, legislation, repre-
s~entation, the courts, foreign relations,
fraud prevention, insurance. taxation,
Translated into foreign languages or
quoted by thousands of the trained ma
tive speakers who are enlisted in this
civic campaign, the contents of this
handbook on American democracy
an and child in this country, whose
civic ignorance might make them easy
prey for Bolsnevih propaganda. II. in
cludes copies of the Declaration Of In
dependence and the Constitution Of the
United States.
Declaring that "our country is the
land of freedom and opportunity" and
that a knowledge of its Constitution is
necessary to the American-born as
well as to the foreign-born 'If they.
too, are to take up the task Of faith
full citizenship this primer of patriot
ism devotes itself at the outset to
"the general work Of reconstruction in
citizenship" 1t explains that 'the
citizen who does not possess some
knowledge of our democratic institu-
demagogue or of persons who are
anxious to advance their own interests
at the expense of the people"
Democracy requires OF each man a
great respect for order; a more unset
fish consideration of every mans rights
pamphlet under the heading ''rhe
needs of the people" Each citizen
is responsible for the conduct Of the
government. He is part OF the state,
ernment is his. If it is bad. it is his
fault. He ehas put power into the
wrong hands"
"The first duty Of every citizen is
to vote at every election" 1t Is de-
clared in a chapter on 'The citizens
part" He has no right to shirk this
simple duty, No one has a 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 to vote WISE
ly, 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 democracy
in this country and the part taken in
it by various foreign leaders, the
pamphlet says: ''The European struggle
for liberty is marked oftentimes. by ter
rible injustice, by disrespect for law,
by public disorder and public disaster
In its history, injustice is often reveng-
ed by injustice, not overcome py
equality of opportunity. We see a note
worthy and terrible example OF license
mot liberty-in Russia today. All these
attempts are ~endeavors after liberty
and In that measure are praiseworthy.
When they grow to lawlessness, they
must be condemned by every lover Of
democracy"
Millions Of copies of this patriotic
primer viii be printed and distributed,
not only in the channels Of this civic
education campaign. of the Natona
Catholic War council, but through ev-
ery civic agency. in the work Of which
It would prove Of value.