The Farmington times., 1919-10-10
DON'T ROCK THE BOAT"

| Inc llNe-WOfn expression, Don
rock the boat" is especially timel
now. There is a situation prevailin,
in this country Just now the like .
which the present generation has nev
err witnessed In other parts of tn
country there is much unrest and dis
tUIbance in the industrial world
Strikes and lockouts are occurrin,
daily. The rcadjustment period from
war to peace is upon US, and, strang,
as it may seem, it is going to require
as much unseliish devotion, as mucl
loyalty and courage, to American
ideals and principals to get back on
firm and sound and lasting peace ba
! sis as it did to marshal our forces anC
go to war.
War is Il crucibe which tests a ma.
ton. 1t shows up the weakness; II
brings to light the results of false doc,
trines; it brings about self-inspection
a kind of national inventory. The in
vent0ry made by our nation revealed
the fact that our complete liberty of
speech and school and church had
been abused by some who had been re-
garded as loyal citizens of this coun-
try. We found that some foreign ma
tions, and particularly Germany, had
seized the opportunity offered by this
complete liberty of speech to further
her own selfish interests and strength
en- her plans for the Germanization of
the world When this discovery was
made a wave of Indignation swept the
country, and many of the people who
had been using the language dropped
it as soon as they learned the sinister
aims and purposes of Germany.
Others who had at hand the same in
formation and facts, who mad plainly
revealed to them the baneful effects
of this rop@ganda, still insisted upon
using this instrument of an enemy
country in their everyday business
and having it taught to their children
in the elementary schools. This atti-
tude of the latter has been the direct
cause of the demonstrations that have
taken place in this country during the
past two weeks. The stand taken by
discharged soldiers who are now or
ganizing posts of the American Le-
gion in this county, upon the one
language question, is the same that
has been advocated by this paper for
more than two years. While cham
pIoning this cause during that time,
this paper has never denounced as dis
loyal every man and woman who used
the German language. We do not do
it today, for there is abundant proof
to the contrary; but in the light Of
the revelations that have been made,
in the light Of the experiences through
which we have recently passed, we as
Sert again that there are no funda-
sound American reasons why
a part Of the youth of this country
should first be grounded and taught in
a foreign language. This position has
been taken by the foremost teachers,
preachers and laymen of German de-
scent in this county. To the credit of
Rev. Langehennig of this city, of Rev.
Lohmann Of Egypt Mills, and a num-
Der of laymen throughout the county,
they began shortly after German per
fidity had been barred, substituting
the language of this country for the
German language. Their example is
bearing fruit, and the impetus that it
has received by the calls made by
of the American Legion up
IN some centers that showed they
wanted to hold to the old order will
hasten the change.
This paper is for the change; we
will hail with delight that day when
he last trace and vestige of every dis
migrating foreign influence has been
wiped out. But we again want to urge
orbearance and caution. The times
re unsettled, conditions are not nor
nal, and when this condition prevails
he pendulum of opinion is apt to
wing from one extreme to the other.
den are apt to resort to force and
iolence to bring about desired chang
S, and if they do their cause loses
hat great sustaining force of public
ointment which stands for law and
rider. It's true our laws are not per-
ect. They proved to be too lenient
or many whose sympathies were :
gainst this country during the war.
tut more substantial and lasting pro-
ress can be made by intelligent CO. 4,
peration directed towards remedying
he defects than can be brought about :
y physical force or violence.-Jack- :
on Cash-Book.