Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-07
ALL -AMERICANlSM is
NOT A NEW DOCTRINE
The Essential Princir!s- OF II Were Laid
Down Two Thousanu Years Ago In a
Letter BY ST. Paul TO the Romans

i cStCd in the celebration in this city today,
either as participants or as spectators. should
ask themselves what they mean by ALI
AmcriCanism
The celebration is in honor Of the fourth
anniversary Of the declaration Of war against
Germany. That declaration was genuine
net Of All Amcrcanism. 1t was the result
Of tho decision Of the United States that il
could no longer ignore what was and is
going on in Europe.
The splendid isolation of which we had
hoaStCd for century had ceased to exist.
Although three thousannd miles Of salt
watcr separated us from the continent on
which the fighting was taking place, we were
directly affected by the conflict. The war
on tn" sea as an incident to tho war on the
lnud had resulted in the destruction of the
lives Of our citizens. it had interfcrcd with
our commerce and was threatening to inter-
ferc still more dsastrouSy.
We discovered that the United States was
n member of the family Of nations and that
its peace could not be preserved 80 long as
there was n bitter quarrel among other
members Of tho same family.
We raised an army of 900 900 men and
sent 1000 600 of them to Europe.
We incurred n debt Of 500 900 900 900.
which it will take several generations TO
pay. and We turned our industrial forces
from the occupations Of peace to the aCtivi-
tics of war.
And thu was in real sense the appl
cation Of tho principles Of Al Amoricanism
to the international conditions then pre-
vailing.
To put it in another way. it was the ap-
plication Of tho principles Of Christianity
to world politics.
Ono Of the most distinguished c2pounders
of those principles wrote 10 the young church
at Rome that none Of us livPth unto him
self and no man dicth unto himself" be-
cause he wished to impress upon the Romans
reared in Nh" atmosphere of the capital of
triumphant and Conqucring nation that
there was no salvation for the world so long
as ingrowing sclfshness was the rule of
conduct.
We know in April. 1917. that no nation
could live unto itself We had been taught
that even intelligent self interest required
that We should play our part in destroying
the force which was seeking to trampIc down
all the liberties Of the allied nations and
to set up an empire based on greed for
power and pclf. And we acted in accord
ancc with the logic Of the situation
When Mr. Harding explained in the Sem
ate that he voted for the war resolution be-
cause our rights on the seas were diSrc-
gardcd he told only half of tho truth
Whether he knew it or not. he voted for
the war resolution because he was conscious
that there was no safety for any nation so
long as Germany was fighting to establish
her right TO control the dcStincs OF the
world. and because he was conscious also
that each Of the allied nations must make
sacrifices for the others for the general good
il the general good was to be vindicated
Two years and tv" months have passed
since the fighting stopped. and in that tim"
tho frCs "f high idcalism have burned low
in many places. There are men who wish
t. havo the United States wash its hands
Of tive Who'll" dreadful business and to turn
its bnck upon tho rest Of the world. In so
short a time they have forgotten the lesson
If four years Of war. They shut their eyes
10 the fact that modern inventions hay"
spunGrd the seas from their place between
tho continents and have made all the ma
tions next door neighbors. and that whether
we will it or not we cannot shirk our obli-
! cations to those ncighbors.
Many Of them never knew that the United
| States shares with the great European ma
| tions the responsibility for the conditions
| which brought about the war. France in
| 1870 protested to the United States, 10
| England to Spain and Italy and the rest
| against the seizure of Alsacc and Lorraine
| by Germany. but none needed the protest.
| They all acted on the theory that Germany
| aud Franc" must settle their own quarrel
| and that no one else was concerned about
the terms Of the settlement. But the triumph
| Of German greed in 1870 convinced the Ger
| mans in 1914 that they could once more
take what they wished with impunity.
Because the great powers ignored the
principle that no nation can live unto itself
they have paid in blood and treasure for
their violation Of the law that lies at the
foundation Of human conduct.
Men hay" been saying that they do not
wish the uitrd States 70 incur any Obliga
tonS which would make it necessary for
their boys To- 60 to Europe 10 tight, as
though il were not partly b"rHuS" tho
United State, in III" past had d"riin"d to
assume any obligations in Europe or to
bring moral pres sure to bear in the interest OF
equity rua' 1000, 600 American boys had
been compelled to 60 to Europe and 1000 .OOC
more had to bc takcn from their jobs anC
from I'll" schools and colleges so that they
nigh, b" ready to fight ii needed,
Ihousauds If years before Paul told thu
Roman, tunt no man liycth unto himself
tho first murderer denied that he was hi
brothers. N"rpcr So long as nations ac
according to the rul" of Cain there will b.
war;. Thrr" can b" no Stabl" peace unit
nation, act in acr"rdanc" with the principles
laid down by Paul. They contain the cs
srnrc of what should b" An Amoricansm.
1t would be- 4 gricvouS miStHk" to assume
that when We say We believe in America 70
Americans We think this form of words en-
bodies tine law and the gospel OF nationa
conduct.
America for Americans is sound doctrin
within proper limits, just as Philadelphia
for ThiIadrIphians is Il good policy within
pruprr hounds. We knO| that Philadelphia
cannot prosper If it cuts itself of from th
rest uf III" country, and "" ought to Eno'
that it would be a fatal mistake for tn
,l. th it,tn s1f