The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-06-14
AMERICANISM
Essay by Miss Mildred Manning
Graduate 1920 Ocala
High School

what IS AmerlcanlSm American
ism means freedom, sympathy, love,
cooperation and a general blending
% nationalities, in the English Ian
guage, working toward the same
common goal.
When the first settlers came from
the mother country to America they
lacked a distinctive American spirit.
They looked to England as child to
its mother, worked for England, for
the king, and did not regard them
selves as separate people, revolving
against tyranny, even tho this was
the cause Of their settling. They were
simply over here in conquest for the
English crown. But this spirit did
not remain with them. The effort on
the part Of England to enforce unjust
measures on the colonies caused the
spirit Of revolt to kindle within them.
England became so drastic in her re-
quirements that this spirit culminat-
ed in real revolt-the declaration of
independence This was the first con-
crete expression Of real American
ism. From that time to this much
attention has been given to the eX-
preston, study and teaching of Am
ericansm.
How does one know a real Amer
lean when he sees him? If he, himself,
is a real American, he will generally
be able to tell another one. We can
Judge an American by the principles
that have been shown by other Amer
leans. Take for example, Abraham
Lincoln. He did not eat from sill
yer spoon all of his life. He did not
have the advantages of school and
books as we do today, but he worked
and thru his efforts he built strong
and noble character, and the materials
Of his work are free to us all-"faith
in God, absolute honesty, patience to
learn and charity for all men," The
true American is the one who strives
and in striving we see that he gains
comfort and satisfaction by Brown
ing's apt phrase, GA mans reach
should exceed his grasp" or, Striving
is more than attainment"
There is no other patriotism and
no nations with ideals approaching
those of America. Well, how do you
know this? The bolshevik might say,
eve do not believe in the upper class
rule" This is true, while seemingly
opposed, it brings with it the same
results as autOcracy. AutOcracy hud
dies the wealthy and educated class,
while bolshevism stands for the re-
verse. One goes to the extremes in
one direction and one in the other.
The results of both are class hatred,
ana their weapon is terror. American
ism must be directly opposed to both
of these forms. 1t stands for SYM
pathy, cooperation, based upon a
common knowledge, common aims, an
equitable sharing of burdens, and an
equal emphasis on rights and duties
and the weapon of terrorism must
While this method would work in
primitive government, it is detri-
mental to our Cherished liberties"
"The spirit of Americanism is not
confined to any particular race, Ian
guage, land, creed or form of govern
ment." The English language is not
Americanism, neither is merely living
here, having a democratic form of
government, Americanism. at does
not mean loyalty to a king, attach
ment to any particular spot OF
ground, conformity to fixed code OF
customs, nor hostility toward those
who differ from US" We know what
Americanism means, and we boast of
it as belonging to America, which it
does, but why cannot its spirit oc-
cupy the whole globe? We have said
that it stood for democracy, freedom,
sympathy and cooperation and its
governing principles are equality of
opportunity and spirit of obligation
and service. so what is the reason
these principles cannot be extended to
our fellow-men? This can be done if
all wOuld-be Americans would first
be guided by them and teach them to
aliens. That would be then a fair
means Of its spread over all the
world.
Another expression of American
ism was when the United States en-
tered the world war. This was our
fight for our rights. The rights Of
free trade in munitions, of the use Of
the high seas, and other national
rights were denied us-therefore, we
were willing to fight for them. The
declaration of independence and the