The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-02-21
OPEN FORUM
Citizenship

umn, a quotation from the pen of
Sir Gilbert Parker, bearing on the
American citizenship of his brother,
TO which quotation, with your permits
sion, | should like to refer.
The quotation taken out of its con-
text in the article in which it appears,
might lead one not acquainted with
the writings of Sir Gilbert Parker,
and judging him only by that quota
ton, to regard him as somewhat of a
political fire-brand, a man with con-
slderably more zeal than good judg-
ment-so vehement are his words,
quoted by you A second reading of
the quotation, however, in which due
emphasis was placed on the words
Il THINK, etc, might have a sober
ing effect on any such snap-judg-
ment, and most certainly a careful
reading of the article from which the
quotation was taken, would.
The article in question has for its
title: america AND THE WAR"
1t is the product of a well informed
and sagacious mind, pleading for a
better understanding among millions
of English people, and among millions
of American people, of the unity of
aims and ideals in the United States
and England.
Further it is an attempt, success
fully wrought out, to prove by the re-
lated history of the two nations, that
division between them, at all times
in the past, has been political rather
than spiritual, and their unity and
union in the war just closed, is ad-
duced in support OF that theorem.
Both England and America, he con-
tends, in the positions they have
taken, and the parts they have play
ed in the war, have been faithful to
their ancient, democratic faith, and
have upheld and supported, by mutual
sacrifice and service, the cause of
civilization, which has been so tori
bly, abused and ~despoiled by Germany,
not least So, by her pernicious law of
dual citizenship, a law of which, l
believe, the people of United States
was until after the wal be-
gan. 1t is the international treachery
+ that law to which Sir Gilbert
Parker points in the section of the
article from which you quote. With
your permission, that your readers
may more clearly understand at
what he is aiming, l will quote from
the context:
THE United States has come to
understand that when Germany pass
ed a law preserving perpetual citizen
ship TO her people, whatever other ma
tionality they adopted, she was aim
ing at the heart of civilization. l
have 4 brother who has become an
American citizen. l think I should
curse him to the uttermost death il
he declined to take up sword or rifle
TO defend the United States in a war
with Great Britain. l believe that is
what al. Americans feel. He was not
entitled to make the United States
his home, live by American energy,
profit by American enterprise, and
remain a Briton. Think, then, of
what this foul principle Of Prussia is.
1t would have me say to my brother,
be an American citizen, but remem
Der that your real duty lies with the
land of your birth, and when she calls
you must tear up your pledge and
compact and sworn word and come
back to the Union Jack.
81 wonder how many Americans
know that all German-Americans are
still Germans by Germany law; and
If they do know it, how they must
resent the iniquity of the nation that
makes of the law of naturalization a
scrap of paper, to be torn up, like the
sacred compact for the neutrality of
Belgium!"
The principle enunciated by Sir
Gilbert Parker in the foregoing words
that people from other countries,
permanently resident in the United
States, who live by American energy,
and profit by American enterprise, If
non-citizens, should become citizens,
is deserving Of emphasis.
But, Sir, is there not, just now, a
possibility of making American cid-
zenship a something which can be
too easily obtained? 1t is not so much
more citizens that our country needs,
but speaking generally, citizenship of
broader vision, and higher, more al
truistic ideals, in which due thought
is given to common responsibilities
common aims, common duties, and
rommon answerableness for the COM
mon welfare of our country. The
signs of the times are hopeful in this
direction. The gospel of social justice
is, more and more, taking possession
of the consciences of our leaders, and
our captains Of industry. Our com
mon co-partnership as citizens is in
cr~easingly being recognized. The
thought that we are members one of
another is not perhaps, as yet, a
passion with us, but it Is becoming
one, and and 1t is well that 1t should.
AS it does, those resident in our
midst who are non-citizens, and who
are desirable as citizens, will, in in,
creasing numbers, come to regard
citizenship as a prize, and a respon-
sibility, well worth striving for. Many
of them do not now covet it, because,
as it seems to them, no small pro
portion of those who are citizens ap,
parently regard their citizenship as
almost wholly limited to the privilege
of voting.
Now, a man may, so to speak,
vote his head off" at election times,
and yet be, in the attitude, atmos,
phere, and aim of his daily life of but
little real value to the community as