Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-02-20
RIGHTS AND DUTIES Or
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
CONTINUED from last week)

it to be is recorded in the historic
"Ord nance of 1887" which forever
dedicated the Great Northwest
Territory to that freedom which is
made possible only by obedience TO
law and to that universal education
of the people, which produces in
telligent loyalty upon which the
safety of the nation must rely. The
'+iathers," who framed the Ordi-
nance, declared that Religion,
morality and knowledge being nee
essary to good government s>d the
happiness of mankind, schools and
the means of education shall for
ever be encouraged" They have no
doubt that good government and the
happiness of mankind were most
intimately associated; that there
could be no happiness without law
and order; and that both good gov
ernment and the happiness of the
people depended upon reverent
recognition and sincere worship Of
God; a respectful consideration of
yhe rights of their neighbors; and
an intelligent participation in the
affairs Of government, all of which
sacred duties ale held up to scorn
and derision by the enemies of gov
ernment who are seeking to destroy
the home, the church, the state,
and everything for which those
t.me-honored institutions stand.
No enc who has any realization
of the true meaning of life, vino
loves liberty, or who cares for the
happiness of mankind, can read
the following "Creed of the 1. w.
w" as expoanded by Eugene V. Debs
one of the founders of that disloyal
organization, without pledg.ng anew
his loyal devotion to the Republic
and his determination to fight all
the authors and promulgators OF
u~h treasonable uttecansies to the
death:
81 do solemnly swear that l hold
In contempt all institutions of Cap
italism, including ecclesiastical and
secular; and its laws, its flag, its
courts, its churches and its rengivn;
that l will obey all summonses 'ud
commands of the elected officials Of
this order, under penalty of death,
and STARE seither my time, effort
or money to obey, even to the last
crop of my blood"
1t seems impssible that such
blasphemous utterances could find
expression in free America which
is. indeed, another word for oppor-
tunity." To realize that traitors
who can give expression to such
disloyalty are really in the United
States in larger numbers than we
hike to believe, must arouse both in
dignation and anxiety in the minds
and hearts of all who are fit to live
under the Stars and Stripes.
Hope and encouragement are
foy.ld in tuningl from contempla-
ticn of the villainies of the I. W.
W." and other kindred organiza-
tions which are seeking to dethrone
God, destroy the home, and over
throw all government, to a con-
eideration of the purposes of "The
Amerscan Legion" recently organic
ed and composed of millions of
Slea.. minded, true-hearted, liberty
.owng, God-fearing young Ameri-
oans who know what it means to
be willing to give life itself in de-
fense Of the liberties of the world
and who are ready to devote all
their energies in times of peace, as
we'll as in war, to defending the in
stitut. .ons which are the heritage
of the past and which have been
made possible by the blood and
sacrifice of American patriots who,
all through the nations history,
have stood ready to give their all
fer freedom and justice.
No finer expression of loyalty to
God and government or of the du-
ties of citizenship has ever beer
written than the statement of the
Purposes of "The American Le
gion" as outlined in the Preamble
to their Constitution recently adopt
ed. 1t should be placed in ever!
school of America and taught il
connection with the sentiments o
Abraham Lincoln relative to obedi
ence to law.
] "For God and country, we asso
/ ciate ourselves together for the fol
lowing purposes;
""To uphold and defend the Cor
stitution of the United States Q
I America, to maintain law and OF
der; to foster and perpetuate a on
hundred. per cent Americanism;
preserve the memories and incident
Of our association in the Great Wa
to inculcate a sense of individui
obligation to the community, stat
and nation; to combat the autocrac
of both the classes and the masses
to make right the master of nigh
to promote peace and good will c
earth; to safeguard and transmit
posterity the principles of justic
freedom and democracy; to cons
crate and sanctify our eomfadesh
by our devotion to mutual helpfu
ness"
II For more than half a eentur
the members of the Grand Army
the Republic have constituted
| stabilizing influence and force
l government. They have beet t
|. personifcation Of loyalty and ma
4 always been true to the highe
1 deals Of liberty under law. TT
II .Gmerican Legion" will undoubted
l eyereise a similar influence in t
years to come. 10 them Amer
w1ll look as positive force
righteousness and justice. w
EN- all other loyal American cl
zens will join in determined ell.
10 overthrow all the forces whi
| tnreaten the life of the Repub
! md in developing and maintain
a one hundred per cent America
i'm. In this one hundred per ct
Americanism, there will be fopnc
Just recognition Of the rights Of
10 life, liberty and the pursuit
happiness as guaranteed in the |
caaration of Independence togetl
with an equally just recognition
the duties, of all as recorded in
solemn pledge with which this
cIaration closes:
"And for the support of this
caration, with firm. reliance
the protection Of Divine Providel
we mutually pledge to each OF
our lives, our fortunes, and
sacred honor"
No one who is not willing to Il
n i