Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-12
DUTY OF PULPIT AND PRESS.

DUTY OF PULPIT AND PRESS.
Let not the pulpit. the press. the
school, nor any agency in touch with
the minds of the people. fail to light
the way with Americanism to the goal
of greater civilization and regulated
freedom for mankind. The pioneers
of America kindled the torch and
pointed the route Americans have
followed That is the timely appeal
the Roosevelt Memorial association is
making, in connection with a memo
rial that is being arranged for through
solicitation for membership all over
the United States and in other lands
that know Theodore Roosevelt, the
great American. who did more for
spreading the spirit of steadfast pa
triotism here than any one in modern
times, and who made an impression
upon peoples of foreign lands and
aliens in this country. Besides prov
ing the devotion of the people to the
to arouse in every locality realization
that only by systematic methods can
great masses of aliens already here
be soon influenced to understand and
follow the principles and methods
that made early America united, un-
imperiled by evils that were born
abroad and that are checking the on
ward path Of democracy in the land
of its creation.
Without going back beyond the ten
year period before the war there was
America, practically all from Europe.
Speaking only foreign tongues usually,
and if able to read in any language,
depending upon the language news
papers. is it any wonder that Ameri-
canization has not been absorbed by
the strangers. Massed as most of
them are in congested parts of cities
and around industrial plants. they live
their racial lives about as they did in
other lands.
The leaven of America works main
" among the children who attend
American schools. and learn new
language. But the whole scheme of
American thought and government
works but slowly through children,
who dwell amonE aliens incoming
more rapidly than those here broaden
their knowledge and are won from
racial surroundings.
Twenty years before the world-war
started that made the United States
take notice of unfriendly and nom
understanding Of the elements of di-
versified and dangerous population,
Theodore Roosevelt said:
"Where immigrants, or the sons Of
Immigrants, do not heartily and in
good faith throw in their lot with us,
but cling TO the speech. the customs
the ways of life, and the habits of
thought of the old world which they
have left, they thereby harm both
themselves and us. If they remain
alien elements. unassimilated, and
with interests separate from ours,
tney are mere ODSlluCuOHS 10 llle cur
rent of our national life, and. more
over, can get no good from it them
selves"
One of the greatest needs in the
work of Americanization of foreigners
is for real Americans to modify their
habit in needless and insincere kick
ing and criticism of their own people,
of their own government. Ready as
most of them are to stand as one fam
fly and fight for the republic, there
are entirely too many hypocritical
pamphlets, and too much soapbox
oratory, tending to make the alien
listeners ard readers believe they
have come to the wrong place. 1t is
the aim of the Roosevelt memorial
workers to bring about better influ-
ences by passing along the light of
such minds and patriotism of such
men as Theodore Roosevelt, no longer
a political personality, but whose ut
terances on Americanism bear the
ardor that all should feel