Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-03-30
GEN. PERSHING GIVES
TALK ON AMERICANISM
No Place in America for Those
Who Continue Allegiance to
Another Country

Another Country
Gen. John j. Pershing, speaking
before a crowd which packed Madison
Square Garden Friday night at one
of the greatest patriotic oemonstra-
lions here since the signing of the
armiStlce, bILJerIy denouaCeu persons
of foreign birth who seek the freedom
of this country to spread political
and warlike propaganda" to weaken
the ties of friendship between the
United States and her allies in the
late war. The meeting was under
the auspices of the American Legion
and other patriotic societies as pro-
test against the recent mass meeting
arranged to voice objection to the
presence of French colonial troops in
occupied portions of Germany, des-
cribed as "the horror on the Rhine"
Fifteen minutes before the meeting
was called to order by Col. Frank w.
Galbraith, jr., national commander of
the American Legion, the fire depart
ment officials ordered the doors of the
garden closed to bar further admis-
sions. More than 1900 persons were
then packed into the historic structure
while thousands less fortunate ones
were swarming around the building
endeavoring to enter.
A demonstration lasting fully 10
minutes occurred as the procession
of Gold Star Mothers entered, escorted
by marine guard and military
bands. "A few moments later bugle
announced the entrance of Gen.
Pershing, and another demonstration,
equal to the first, followed. Legion
posts from all over the city came
trooping in behind their color bearers,
and as each arrived it was the signal
for the audience to rise to it's feet
in cheers. When Col. Galbraith in
his brief address paid a tribute to
the Gold Star Mothers no sound but
the speakers's voice could be heard.
The vast audience bowed it's head,
mems handkerchiefs went to their
eyes, and women sobbed audibly. A
moment later the crowd broke into
prolonged cheering when Col. Gal
braith pointed to a section of the gal
lery reserved for wounded soldiers and
described them as the "real heroes of
the war;
Following Gen. Pershing's address
resolutions were unanimously adopted
condemning "the spread of mischiev-
Gus propaganda among our people,"
and resentine as "disloyal any at
our country and the allies who fought
shoulder to shoulder with us for the
preservation of human liberty in the
greatest war of all times"
Gen. Pershing paying tribute to
foreign-born citizens who served I'M
der him in the Philippines, Mexico and
France, declared it was entirely prop
er that foreigners should cling to the
folk lore, literature and music of the
native land, but he assailed those who
seek to dictate American questions
and political policies by the standards
of their own countries.
eve have no quarrel with the
American of foreign BIRTH" he said.
eve want them to know that Amer
lea is an inspiration, that is something
spiritual, goal toward which we aim
But we do object to the foreign born
citizen who attempts to decide an
American question for foreign rea-
son, whether he be of German line
age and proposes to determine an
American policy because of German
prejudice, or whether he be Irish,
Italian, Hungarian, or Russian, who
seeks for similar reasons to decide
American questions. / bitterly resent
American citizenship or residence for
propaganda in foreign countries.
GIN America there can be no place
for those who, while claiming equal
citizenship with US and enjoying it's
privileges under our flag, yet con-
tinue their allegiance to another coun-
try. There can be no such thing as
oft
no guise can this country be made
the breeding place of intrigue. We
welcome all those who honestly desire
to become American citizens and adopt
America as their own, but we abhOr
the intrigueT, who at the same time,
would secretely plot against our in
terestS.
1.-TWO years have passed and what
of today? Are we to forget the vows
of yesterday? Is the wanton destruc-
ton of France and Belgium and on
the seas to be condoned? Shall sub
tie propaganda again lift it's poison
Gus head to weaken our friendships?
Are those who made the supreme
sacrifice no longer to be remembered
among us?
''The answer is, that the principles
for which America fought are i'm
nutable, and the allies besides whom
sc fought are our friends. America
shall remain steadfast in her attitude
against aggression and insist that
outlaw nations be held to full res
ponsibility and pay the full penalty
FOR their misdeeds, to the end, that
IN the future, all nations may know
the cost of such misdeeds against
civilazation.'
President Harding telegraphed |
Commander Galbraith of his inability |
to address the meeting.
81 am not unfamiliar with the pur-
poses of the gathering" the telegram
stated, "and aIn glad to give them by
cordial Endorsement. ! hope you may
have great outpouring that shall |
voice the best and most determined
ideals of American patriotism"