The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-01-04
THE UNITED STATES rs"


question that was at one time mighty
important one In this nation. The
question Is whether we shall say
''are" or sis" 1t took a terrible Civil
War to decide that question, and II
has been generally conceded that II
was definitely settled for all time un-
Gil the presidents recent utterances
brought 1t to light again.
The people OF the northern section
OF this nation who poured out their
blood and treasure to definitely
stamp us" in place Of are resent
the surrection OF ARE" and they
have right TO do so.
The Chicago Tribune OF last Sun
day contained fine reprimand in an
editorial which we reproduce for our
readers. 1t says:
president Wilson in Paris used
significant locution. He said that the
United States entered the war be-
cause "they" had certain convictions
and ideas. This idea OF the United
States as plural is significant. We
imagine that is not careless ex-
preston. 1t Is one OF fundamental
Importance. 1t indicates an idea, and
an idea which is repugnant to nation
alism.
1.-THE Tribune finds its opposition to
many of Mr.. Wilson's policies rather
deity defined by his expression. To
The Tribune the United States is not
they" The United States is an en-
tity. The United States is. They are
It, They absolutely and and eternal
1y is.
"The Tribune comes out of Fed
'eralist. Wing, Republican past into e
Republican present, with all the ma
aionalistic aspirations and desires,
ambitions and ideals for great solid
ified nation which have been express
ed by intense Americans in war and
peace for over a hundred years
president Wilson may not con
sciously believe that the American
nation IA a loose association OF states,
counties, and parishes, but his past,
his traditions and possibly his
thoughts are related TO separatist,
tory idea OF an association OF states,
a Invisible union. We could not have
any sympathy for ideas which had
such relation and Mr. Wilson's ideas
can be traced back to such origin
There is an irreconciliable conflict
between people who think Of the Unit
ed States as SIS and people who
think OF 1t as ARE. People who
think or il as "is" will be found to be
intense nationalists, advocating every
instrument and device OF nationallstic
thought; insistent upon the entity OF
the nation, the value of its power
and dignity the usefulness of II as a
nation in the affairs OF the world.
1.-THE people who can refer to the
United States as "are" will be found
TO be Indifferent to great nationaliz-
ing schemes, indifferent to the SUI
preme claims OF the nation for itself
upon its citizens. They may be inter
nationalist. humanitarians, anything
you wish, but you will not find in
tense Americans among them
This distinction Is fundamental and
Ii will result in the greatest differ
cnces in policies. President Wilson
and The Tribune would have difficult,
in finding a common ground SO long
as he can think OF the United States
in the plural.
"The United States Is nation. i
Is not a loose confederation OF soyer
eign powers sticking together at their
convenience 1t Is a national entity
n single and indiyisible nation.
United 1t is and divided It Is no
going to be. II is not to be indicated
as diyisible in the verbs used TO de
scribe It's acts or It's being. 1t Is no
conglomeratlon. II expresses Il
self as an entity. II lives as a com
plete organization,
When President Wilson says thu
United States are or "have" he 4
using the kings English and not U.
English. Government TO the Englisl
Is plural. "The government are" Al
ancient nation may pluralIze its verb
IL It cares to, but this greatest OF alb
sorbIng nations. taking ints its citi
zenship almost anything that can bu.
a steerage passage, is and insist
that 1t "is."
The United States Is not collection
s,f states and an assemblage OF mum