The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1922-04-06

In the SUM Oh SlC IOf tIle TWO pest
papers prepared on "Americanism'
by students of the public school.
Harold Riley was the winner of the
first prize of SO and Ivey Hilder-
brand won the second prize of SIS.
These articles were written during
"Americanization" week and were
sponsored by the American Educa-
tional Association and the American
Legion. The prize winning essays are
published herewith:
"AMERICANIsM"
The principle Of Americanism as
cans is not the correct idea Of Amer
icanism. They think if they wave a
flag and sing the Star Spangled Ban
ner'' they are making great show OF
'1ove of country" Some men may
shout my country! By whatever
means bounded or extended! My coun-
try right or wrong!" While among
their true associates they scorn and
food and shelter. Without this false
show of loyalty Red and Socialists
would find the United States more un-
pleasant than it is now.
The real meaning of Americanism,
as defined by the person who is an
American in body and soul, assumes
a different aspect. 1t is on him that
the nation depends in a crisis. In him
the beauty of Americanism is revealed
in it's true light. Not the sordid,
grasping idea of using the name of
his country as a means of securing
money and power, but the exalted one
of sacrificing his life for his country
in her hour of need is the true patriots
conception of Americanism. He is will
ing to relinquish his hopes of hap
Ply future, with his position assured,
to become private in the army or his
country and, when called, to give his
life gladly that his country might live.
That is real Americanism.
However, in this period of unrest
the higher ideals of a man are some
times lost in the struggle which he
must make to support himself or him
self and his family. Thousands OF
American soldiers, wounded in the SER
vice of Uncle Sam, were starving ana
freezing because of lack of the es-
away from loving wife or mother,
& good job and promising future, to
fight in a dark. damp trench in North
ern France. They returned to their
native land, perhaps manned or dis
abled in some way, and everyone turn
ed from them. Those who stayed at
home then forgot that, but for these
soldiers ideals and patriotism, those
The soldiers wandered from shop to
shop, from home to home, asking for
only a small job or a piece OF bread,
and everywhere they met with scorn-
full refusals and disappointment.
From these occurrences some
thoughtful men who had started an
organization. the American Legion,
several years before, decided the SOL
diers must be helped in some way
Therefore, this Legion won world re-
nown by putting thousands OF disabled
soldiers in different kinds of schools
and obtained positions for many more
soldiers. The good of this organlza-
ton is inestimable and the soldier may
This is one instance where real Amerl-
can spirit, which is unfortunately
somewhat obscure in many American
citizens of today, is shown. There
struggle to support themselves, forget
their higher ideals of American1sm
and refuse to help the wounded SOL
diers, this organization will l beheVe.
soldiers and the country at large: Tor
it will infuse in every one a spirit OF
brotherhood.
What was the reason the Federal
soldiers in the Civil War gave for
fighting against their own country
men, sometimes their fathers or broth
ers? Perhaps they could not have ex-
pressed their reason hut it was an IN
herited love of country. 1t was true
Americanism. Their fathers fought
won at so great a price and as they
inherited their forefathers character
istics they also inherited their Ideals !:
Another idea of those who helped
win the war has been expressed by
many
They admit that the soldiers played
q very important part in the war, but
they also declare that there were some
at home who contributed great oeai
of help to the cause of their country.
ofo los ON
who fired the enthusiasm OF all the
people but due credit has been given
them.
IT is the inconspicuous men OF our
country who have not received tneir
credit.
For instance. the farmers who toiled
from morning until night. striving TO
supply their country with the 1ood
which was so essential to the Weirare
of the soldiers and sailors were the
for him all activities would come to q
standstill. Yet he has been Ignored
and overlooked until he is gettlng ois,
couraged, as may be noticed at lne
present time. Is this an american
principle, to overlook or unoeresti,
mate one mans work and give all the
praise to another? Decidedly not
anyone recalls this early study OF
American history he will remember
that one of the first laws of the Unit
ed States. was that all men are Great
ed equal Let us give everyone his
Just praise and show our real Spirit.
Now, who was the pacifist? He was
the man who thought that peace was
q blessing, peace-at any price. He
would have let thousands of innocent
women and children sink beneath the
waves as a result of German barbar-
ism, he would have allowed thousands,
nav hundreds Of thousands, OF dollars
worth of American property to be de-
stroyed on land or sea by pro-GerT
mans or U-boats, il he could, as re-
suit, have peace. Peace Is blessing,
that is admitted by everyone, but what
we want is peace with honor and JUS
tice to all concerned.
The draft dodger was another pest
TO the country during the war. Had
Ananias been living he would nave
seemed a very virtuous man compare
with the draft, dodger. Rega .d'ess OF
whether he had family or OF whetn,
e- his parents were living ne wouio
give as his excuse. my wife ana cnlio
will starve without me-" or Il nave an
AGED mother to support" Was IN tne
true American argument 1t was not:
For the true way for-h:m to suppor'
ana protect his family WAS % nsnt Ioi
democracy and justice. that free men
sn, women should not become mers
slaves to military pows'- fhe Men
I-sa1 nafriOt4 went WttnOut