The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-12

particularly interesting, but they are
quite Illuminating. According to the
figures of the 1910 census there were
then 13.345,000 foreign born residents
of the United States representing 80
different races and speaking "a diff
ferent languages; there were $4,000
600 whose parents were born in for
eign lands: there were 8 1000, 900 who
were unable to speak the English
language and $4,000 who were Hitter
ate in any language. In Chicago alone
illiteracy increased from 69,771 in
1900 to 184,S84 in 1910. There were
more than 100000 foreign born
males of voting age in 1910, which
constituted one-fourth of the entire
number of voters. OF this number.
nearly one-half, or more than 1900, 900
were not citizens of the republic. .
1T is estimated that there are now
in this country more than 100000 men
of draft age who can neither read
nor write. These figures show con-
clusively that immigration and illit-
eracy are two of our greatest prob
lens. When the hopeful immigrants
come to this land of promise too often
indeed they are herded into ghettos
and foreign quarters. They are called
"wops", "dagoes" and "hunkies" and
given no opportunity to learn our Ian
suage, and then we often wonder why
they are not Americanized.
Parents of Citizens.
These people are the parents OF
our future citizens and their children
and children's children will be mum
bered among the defenders of the ma
ton, should national peril seize the
Republic in the future. If they do moi
understand our language they cannot
think in our terms. Not only that
but they know nothing of our tradi
! tions, ideals and national aspirations
THE chief essential of American
| ization therefore is education, and the
racial groups that come to our shore!
must be promptly, alphabetically anC
| effectively nationalized under tht
American flag. Then if after accept
| ing the benefits of our free institution:
and the many advantages that e
with American standards they still
refuse to become naturalized and as
simulated with the great American PEG
pie, they should not be permitted t.
| remain among us. Educatlonal az
vantages should be extended as wide
ly possible to the end that illiterac.
may disappear. This is the first BIZ
step in Americanization
| Peace Problems Difficult.
1.-THE problems of peace are just a
difficult as the problems of war AM
require just as much real patriotism
in their solution. Great empires hav
gone out of existence before our yer.
eyes in the last few years. Russia 70
example, and historians in the futur
can and will write about the Rise an
Fall of the Great Russian empire. /
is up to US as Americans everywher
to so live our lives and SO conduc
ourselves as a government and as
people that this great country ma
| live forever, and that historians ma
never write about the Rise and Fal
! of the American Republic. Let u
| cherish this priceless heritage of tn
| fathers and hand it down to our chi
dren and our children's children wit
ever increasing lustre and glory"
Mayor L. A. Handley extended tn
welcome of the city to the veteran
who were present at Thursday night
meeting and to those who would a
rive Friday and Saturday.