The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-06-18
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
These observances add such ex
pressions of love and loyalty as we
have here made and heard, a rein
structive and inspiring and in all
our baner are in large measure
repentance, SO our testimonials to
ways fitting and proper but, as pro-
fessions of faith are barren OF re-
suits unless we do works meet for
void, unless we give them life and
reality by deeds of daring-sacrifice-
in working for those conditions
safety of our flag and country.
Mans pronenehh 70 selfishness in
clines those who nave no militant
virtue to join in public praise ana
=. J~ry.lc ~ ,le emblem OIL our coun-
try for the common and unworthy
object of gaining personal populari-
w.. Those who toast our flag from
such motives, under the least temp.
alton, Judas like betray our flag and
our institutions. Such occurrences
are neither rare nor imaginary; they
re only too real and too common.
They are, in fact, of every day &C.
currence.
"Our country and our flag had
n the English language, the mother
ongue Of human liberty. Whatever
'""~ican disowns that language and
prefers to 1t any other language, dis
honors our banner, and increases up
on our national horizon, the cloud
fraught with the greatest danger OF
national destruction.
Human liberty, rational liberty,
liberty under law. as guaranteed and
defined in the American Bills of
Ight. was gained and has been pre-
served by the English speaking peo-
pies Of the earth, and has been
brought to its highest perfection in
our own country. The liberty OF
described or defined in foreign
tongues, or really understood their
votaries. .-.--..
Rare souls. here and there among
non English speaking peoples. have
,mired Anglo Saxon liberty. Such
have studied our language, our liter
allure and our history, and come to a
knowledge and appreciation of our
institutions. All who come to us un-
reservedly and learn and use our
language, thereby drink Of the foun
tains of liberty, escape the mental
bondage of foreignism, and become
Americans in spirit and in truth.
Their children prefer the English to
other lanuages, and il educated as
young Americans should be educated
and become real Americans. But
those who come unwilling to accept
American language and all remain
foreigners in fact, and desire their
children to do the same.
Those who are educated in a
foreign tongue clarifying some for
eign country, are left in ignorance of,
and prejudiced against, this, their own
country, and are useless as citizens
and even dangerous in Americana
ing the world. H..
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner can
not be sung and appreciated in the
lanuage of the Old Vikings, nor in
that of Ode Wacht Am Rhein."
Must Know Our Language.
None can be American at heart,
without a knowledge of our lanuage,
which alone really makes him one OF
us. The most effective way to pre-
vent an American child from becom
ing an American patriot is to keep
him in ignorance of the American
language. To use and to be instruct
ed in a foreign language, fills him
with prejudice against our lanuage.
and against our country, and nils
one who is so mfseducated with a
preference for that country whose
language and literature he has learn
ed.
Spoke of Naturalization.
"Our naturalization laws are too
loose. and in their application they
are faulty and vicious. Every person
who asks to become an American by
naturalization, must upon oath de-
clare his intention to become such,
and to renounce his allegiance to all
foreign powers; after doing so, and
after residing five years in America,
he is permitted to become a citizen
upon proving by two citizens, that
during said five years, Cd he has be-
haved as man of good MORAL char
acter; (2), that he is attached to the
principles of our Constitutions; and
60 is we'll disposed to the good or
der and happiness of the same. The
law goes not, as it should, expressly
require him ITO learn and use our
language, or to educate his children
therein.
Persons who have during such
five pears residence learned nothing
of our language, nor educateSs his
children therein, cannot be known
or said to be attached to the princi-
pies of our institutions, or well dis
posed to the good order and happi-
ness thereof.
"a foreigners declaration Of in
tentions to become an American cit
izen, should be understood to mean
that he will learn and use our lam
guage; that his children shall learn
and use it, and shall receive their
education and instruction therein.
No foreigner should he admitted TO
membership in our nation, unless 1t
abundantly appears that he has made
good progress in learning and Is dill
gent in using our language himself,
and that he has educated, or is edu-
eating his children therein.
The Public School.
Our public schools are designed to
accomplish more than mere general
purposeless, colorless instruction.
Their chief object is to prepare young
citizens for the duties of citizenship,
This object is not accomplished, but
on the contrary is defeated by in
Estruction in a foreign tongue, espec-
tally under the tutelage of teachers
also educated principally in foreign
tongue. This constitutes an educa-
ton in foreignism; it unconsciously
glorifies the county of the language
used. and paralyzes and stiles the
American spirit.
eff an American should emigrate