Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-26
From Other Viewpoints
Ours Is n Spiritual Nationality.
ny ROBERT LANSING.

We are q nation of many bloods and many
Compartments. We are Il conslomerate peo-
tudes have hocked 20 our shores seeking in
AmericS that freedom OF thought and action
and That possibility TO riso which were de-
nlcd them in the land NJ their nativity.
Without the ties of kinshp a.d without tho
Common !anSuage ana mode or life which
give TO mast nations a strong bond ot univ
we. as Il people, are held together by the great
principles OF democracy which is Fundamental
10 our eIistence as Il republic. Ours is Il bond
OF political faith rather than a bond OF com
mon origin. In this We differ from other peo-
PIE who possess :. national character built up
from The primitive relationship OF the family
and the tribe from ancient tradition and thu
pride OF race.
American nationality and American ma
t'onal character rest upon an idea or purlc
and md!vldusl liberty which is the element
in our nstionnl life. For that idea our fore
fathers Struggled and triumphinG, they found
go upon it this republic. In the en:Ier pc
ROD o. oar History ~ nation those who
came To cur snores sought III escape from pc-
litical oppre .slom and :: social system founded
upon class distinctions.
tut in recent years the dominant rnotiy, ~
ocr immigrants has changed. II has been
the desire for material benefit rather than 10
seek persona! freedom that those OF foreign
h!rth have come TO he United States. The
reason Is manifest. The spirit OF ,ibe-a1su
n ia- psst half century had became more and
more Eoient in European countries and made
less hnidensomt the ruonarchia! and class
pHviitses wh:c! had been SO long the instr,;-
mth': OF oppression The deprivation of POI
wrong and injustice ceased 10 be the chief
impulses driving men from the lands OF their
fathers 10 lind new homes in America
With this change of NATIVE on the part Of
the aliens who in later Years landed a. our
ports and mingled with our people. there was
among thouHhttui Americans a justihablo up
prehension as TO how strong and how i'm
relliaG was the. Am riGan idcn among Tin.
r'lll"ns o; our foreisn-horn citizens and tneir
chi!dcan. 1t was reasonably asked wbethe-
;hose without Am.rican blood ana without
hatAsd OF the political and social institutions
Of tho lands from which they came would
have the "a me passion for liberty. the same
devotion 10 democracy, the same pat,Iotlc
:errer and artifcisl spirit which had been
manifested in the past generations OF Amer
leans
The world var dispelied th:.t doubt forever.
Cnnclns.veiy and alphabetically the answer WAS
given. The experience o. tho United States in
ih.s Srt..t crisis ot history has proved 10 the
%9:id that a nation. though ii be ~ mixture
81 races cenented together by a political idea
IS as truly nation one rooted in con, !.
men birth and IN centuries OF land tenure
.Alnos; without wsrnlas an impulse to enter
the war swept over tho country en- Impulse
arising from the convic;nn. Mh!ca had been
unronsc!ousiy gaining strength 70: many
months. thu: liberty and democracy ,throu 81; :
cut ihs world would be impeH,ed /, the Ger
mans were victorious. 1t was this great un.