The St. Joseph observer., 1921-06-04
As TO "FIDrLITY TO RACE"


There is a paragraph OF Col. Har-
vey's now world famous speech at
that London dinner two weeks ago
that the Milwaukee Journal calls es-
pecial and critical attention to. The
Journal declares in its forcible man
ner that Harvey has done a thing
inimical to the spirit Of America" in
making this declaration to his British
audience. He said:
"Thc outstanding attributes of
President Harding are breadth Of Wis
ion. greatness Of heart, fidelity to his
race no less than his clan, and no
more TO his family than to his anCes-
try. drawn from all parts of the
United Kingdom
The comment Of the Journal is
forcible and timely:
"These are foolish. harmful words.
j. is fidelity to race that has thrown
America into turmoil, made her pub
lie life a moCkery at times and threat
Cned her with disaster while she was
waginE war 1t is these very things
which make many doubt whether we
have yet become a nation.
fidelity to race there is the widest
difference. Neither Mr. Harvey nor
{ ybOdy else can preach and praise
deity to race and undo the harm
this by preaching Americanism
9 rward. 1t is as impossible to unite
4 erica, drawn from many races,
n a basis Of fidelity to race as it
j mix oil and water.
There is wide difference. too,
n a
understanding friendship that Of
len exists between two nations. Nat
urally, we wish to remain on terms Of
friendship with Great Britain. Mr..
Harvey would not be faithful to his
mission if ne did not say this. But
- Is absurd to suggest that this friend
! . depends on the ancestry Of a
sident, and deplorable to attempt
pase it upon fidelity to race
{ is as thinking, faithful Ameri-
q, not as men actuated by fidelity
ace that we shall steer our
rSe. In homogeneous country
ielity to race makes for stronger
.onalism. In America, composed
men OF many racial stocks, it
Eos for deretionalizatior. All our
born citizens came here vol
Earily and voluntarily they should
.e their fidelity to America Fideli-
is a duty, and the duty Of all citl-
s is to America"
.lring the great world war men
many Of them-some in this ter
were interned, published and
robated as public enemies. for no
nr orfense than that which Col
-.yey now acclaims as a virtue and
tributes to the president of the
United States-"ndelity 20 race and
ancestry" That men should have a
tender feeling for the land of their
arvnstors is natural and proper. But
TIC fidelity of all Americans, from
a.. president to the lowliest citizen.
j. ely due to the government Of the
I ID States, which is composed 81
g supported by men and women
ag from all races and come from
ands that lie under the sun.
e have endeavorcd here, under
I stars and Stripes, to establish a
= olic whore humanity should be
Of the rule Of the dead hand
free, so far as possible, Of racial
IS and animosities. We arc asplr-
5. to make it a republic in which
ed, there shall be a blending Of
he races Of the Aryan stock. We
done It with the vision Of a
.ar and nobler loyalty than that
ace or aucestors-a loyalty tc
q Is and principles.
i5 no easy task and It was not
~ .ly undertaken. 1t represents the
and purpose Of Amer.sanism i
ii mcricanism. We are here to get
from many Oh the things fol
a our fathers stood or which the,
ured. Particularly we are her,
ret away from the wclter O
rels and feuds which kept then
ed along racial lines and whicl
centuries have rccurreuuy con
ID Europe into a house Of agon
-. death.
TIE Milwaukee journal Is righ'
Gorge Harvey did a foolish, harm
fuI" thing when he invoked fldeut
10 rice and ancestry as the basis q
our friendship with Great Britain @
with any other country. For by sue
a f, shty Americans themselves coul
nCy r be united, and without sue
uni our America becomes only q
ahe camping ground.
n; At NEW EMERGENCY TARIF
"a the closing days Of the Wllso