The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-01-20
SEEING AMERICA FIRST

A man once asked me the origin
of the slogan, See America First"
He had Travelled in Europe and was
enthusiastic about the cities and cas-
ties and mountains Of that land, rich
in historic associations. zone can
get something there that will be
sought in vain in America or in any
new country. Before our Rockies
can equal the Alps. they must be
loved by the people for centuries
and centuries. The peaks must be
colored with the sentiments of ma
ny generations. and scores of poets,
in scores of centuries. must sing in
the vallies.
"a month in the Alps is worth a
year in the Rockies. 1t is the rail
roads and others who profit from,
the tourist at home, who keep up
the cry, See America First.
/ have no doubt that the railroads
and others who have a financial in
terest in home travel do their share
to swell the chorus of "see America
First No matter. You may ques-
ton the motives of those responsible
for the slogan. but | believe that
the slogan itself is unexceptionable.
Before starting out to discover the
world in general, the good American
should make an attempt to discover
America
1t will not be denied that nature
has done as much for America is
for any country on earth. Visitors
from Europe admit that our scenery
is as grand as any of theirs. The
only disadvantage of the new world
article seems to be the lack of his
torical and literary associations.
But how are we going to get such
associations? BY centering our in
terests in Europe? Would the riv-
ers and mountains of Europe have
become so famous if Europeans had
taken for their motto, "See Asia
FIRST?
IL is true that some of the most
cultured people of the United States
prefer European travel. That one is
cultured does not prove that-he has
native ability to test values--much
less to create them. The men an
women who through the ages have
made the scenery OF Europe famous
were not in most instances cultured.
But they were men and women Of
creative imagination.
The scenery of Europe is all
mapped out. There are guide books
to tell one just what emotions it IS
proper to experience at each spot
If one is in doubt as to how many
thrills should pass over ones spine
on first beholding certain noun
tain. he can turn to the pages of a
renowned poet and get the required
information. 1t is not dangerous to
40 into raptures over European
scenery, for have not the poets from
Homer down done the same?
There may be a half-hearted love
OF nature that requires erutches Of
that sort. There may be some stu
dents Of the out-of-doors who won
praise a mountain-who won't ad-
mire it wholeheartedly-u It
furnishes a written recommends
ton. In such cases. one may doubt
if the testimonial is not given more
attention than the mountain I sus-
pect that some Americans who ira
vel in Europe get more pleasure 7
from the knowledge that the scenery {
they have viewed is famous than 7
they get from the beauty Of the {
scenery itself. d
Every citizen of this country
should follow in the footsteps of
Columbus and discover America for
himself. The discoveries of Colum "
,us mean nothing to you in compar !
son with the discoveries you can Il
make ia your own back yard. And
n your own county-in your own
county there is room for you to so =
N polar expeditions, to discover =
iyers. mountains, continents,
worlds. W