Norwich bulletin., 1920-05-18
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mr.. Editor: The presence and utter
ances of such a person as the learned
and eloquent Rabbi Wise is something
which should beget some definite impress
sions within the minds of people, there
fore. we trust that what we may here
say will not be considered irrelevant nor
impairment
tional Importance, and most fifty before
an audience of intelligent educators. it
cannot be. but that Thoughtful convictions
were awakened to remain.
Very many of the speakers affirma-
tiohs We're well in point and merited the
applause given.
For example. when he said America
is not only federation of states. but
a federation of races hence foreigner
is not under obligation to become an
AngIo-Saxon to be Americanized.
That becoming an American must be
regarded in a different sense from that of
assuming citizenship-say, in France,
Italy or in the British Empire, where it
is impossible to become Il Frenchman,
an Italian or Briton. The foreigner
in coming here may possess in him the
inherent qualities for American citi-
zenstip, ready to come into activity aft
er the act of his adoption.
All these aphorims are essentially
correct. and show that .Ainericanism is
something particularly unique and ethi-
cally different from any other Kind of
citizenship, and therefore its definition
is the more intricate and it's attainment
more careful and special study.
Much latitude-of course must be Civ
en- to a professional public speaker, who
must more or less mould his address so
that it shall not offend. but rather elicit
appreciation; hence Rabbi Wise was
more apt in telling what Americanization
was not than. really. what it is.
Americanization. he said, is not Reg
ularization. nor Standardization. nor
Christianization, and we would add
neither is it Judahization, nor Colonial
tion--nor Anna lgamation.
If, for any reason it must be express
ed i'll one word. we would say the most
fitting word is the legal one-"Naturali-
cation"
In former days when the immigrant
| reached our. shores he,.was not even call
ed "a foreigner He might speak our
common tongue and have a college ed
ucation and--lf you pIease-in every
| way, physical and religious, be a prop
er candidate for citizenship. Yet he was
| called -'Greenhorn.
He might or might not have friends
| here before him who were now good
| Americans and could lend assistance to
| quicken his Transformation but his
! imperative first duty was to learn how
| to assinilate with his new surroundings
and by all means in his power to shorten
| the period of his crudity and emerge
from the greenhorn state as soon as
! possible
| There being no characterization school
| then in vogue, the task of polishing up
| devolved on the candidate himself most
| largely, and this was a process which
| made good citizens.
| The proud honor was attained by the
| diligence and desire of the man him
self, and not forced upon him by ex-
ternal methods, so in proportion the
! achievement was priced.
| But what do We have now? Inmigra-
| ton Games in groups. It comes bring
! ing with it all its racial traditions and
! antil\lIics. 1t practices its ancient man.
ners and customs. Instead Of suhrnerg-
| ing these in view of the new and bet
| ter relations and opportunities, it col
! onizes and sets up it's former ways Of
| life, isoiating itself from the surround.
| ings Indeed, even more than this,
presuming in some Instances to effect
reforms among US rather than to learn
| so that the problem of our own continu
ance as a governing people becomes g
question as much and az great as the
I Transformation of the stranger within oui
gates-and the question is upon US
| what kind of new Americanism will VIZ
teach, or what kind can We teach tina
will at the same time conserve our ma
tfonal safety and be equally acceptable tt
those we would benefit by the gift Of cit
izenship.
Norwich, May, Is, 1920