The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1920-11-18
IDEALS Of AblERCANlSM"
FATHER u. A. GEISERr


cast their anchor that oppression and
tyranny should overtake them no
more. By these crusaders was q new
doctrine born and carried TO = golden
fruition. Nor has this new dogma
at any time been betrayed by their
successors or descendants.
When in 1872 the dispute over per-
sonal rights and liberty arose once
more, when the same arrogant spirit
prompted an impudent disregard
of our chosen ideals, this country a
second time stepped to the front and
with sword in hand disputed the point
at issue, and second time wrung an
unwilling assent to the doctrine that
no human being need submit to dicta
ton, no matter how high its source,
when that edict trampled under foot
the inherent right of individuals to
seek their peace and happiness in the
way a rightly constituted conscience
should prompt.
Passing over few minor disputes
with a mere mention, we find our
selves involved with the Spanish Gov
ernment, whose representatives per-
petrated atrocities and exercised an
injustice, which stormed the very
heavens for vengeance. And again
the American Eagle emmitted his
scream; Yankee Doodle reverbevated
from the hills and rallied over the
prairies of our land, youthful manhood
rallied around the flag; crushed the
oppressor; salvaged Cuba and like an
elder brother we lead the inhabitants
by the hand until they had learned the
meaning of independence and appre-
ciated its blessing, and once this was
attained we gave them the priceless
boom of freedom and liberty forever
and day. In that same war the
PHILIPPINES were taken over by us, and
even though we crushed the enemy at
its very portals in fair battle, and the
possessions became ours by the very
principles professed by that enemy,
"to the victor belong the spoils," yet
we paid the liberal sum of 10000 900
that all shadow of taint might be
avoided. Here again our unselfish-
ness rises to the surface, for we hold
them for one end alone, to rear and
guide the native into the glories and
benefits of self government upon
which their independence shall be as
sured by US.
In the World War, which deluged
Europe with blood and tears, we held
out for the independence of peoples
and the destruction of arrogant
might; for the rule by orderly masses
in preference to the impotence of
classes. For the principles of a
Washington; for the standards Of our
forefathers; against barbarous theor-
les and savage ethics; for this did we
spend our money; for this we poured
our treasurers into the national cof-
fers; for this we gave the best we had,
our young manhood; for this we bore
the heart aches of anxiety at home;
| sent up our prayers and refused no
sacrafice. And if we did not sue
ceed in our purpose it was not due to
the lack of good will on our part
but upon the selfish boorishness OF
European nations.
Nor could we now that we look over
the situation in coolness, have hoped
for better fate. It is impossible
to conceive an idealistic alliance ir
effort and purpose, between our coun.
try and any European nation unless
and this seems impossible, they rise
from their Inurky, heathenish ideals
to soar in yhe realms of our stand.
ards. or, and this may God forbid, we
should fall from our empyrear
heights and grovel with them in theil
sordid notions. Can there be man
with one drop of American blood
coursing in his veins, who will hesi
tate in his choice of alternative con,
cerning the points involved?
Of course much ado is made ovel
this union and the benefits to be de.
rived for universal mankind are trum,
peted from the housetops. But l say
that no bond can be effected where
the distance between ideals is as wide
as the expanse between heaven anc
earth and an attempted union would be
as futile and desecrating as mating ar
"ape with swan.' To be sure, We
are told that the union would be on q
fair basis, $3.50 proposal. Yet, by
what mental gymnastics can we make
coherent mixture of such vastly di
vergent ideals, which essentially CLASH
when they meet and the one or the
other must be destroyed or at least
BETRAYED in the conflict? Besides il