Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-20
Oklahoma \
A Cradle Of
American
lis Recent Development
Gives II INSIGHT
(The opinions expressed by
Mr.. Johnson are his own and
not necessarily those of The
Detroit Times.)
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

nv ~ -
THIS TRIP from Washington
l. TO my home state of Okla
homa and Tulsa, its most beau
tiful city. was made TO speak at
a ceremony conducted all over
the United States at the request
of the Congress and the PreSi-
dent to induct into their new
status all those who. either
through naturalization or, If ma
tive born. through reaching the
age of p. have become entitled
TO all the rights and the OBJ
ligations--of citizenship.
The celebration here was for
only one county, but II was at
tended by thousands 10 witness
the conservation of more than
a thousand new full-fledged citi-
ZenS.
1t is a most impressive thing,
and. as l believe, a very neces-
Sary thing.
The tendency Of late has been
10 take our national heritage
too much for granted-to stress
the privileges Of citizenship far
more than It's duties. burdens
and obligations--to press the
terrible error that people should
rely on government rather than
the demonstrable fact that the
reverse is the truth--that any
government depends solely on
the strength. self-reliance and
support of its people.
IN SHORT. as blunt Grover
L Cleveland said: 1T is the
function Of people 10 support
government: not Of government
To support people"
Oklahoma was good place
10 watch this now celebration.
II is the last state of the old
and true pioneer tradition.
Having with my own eyes seen
II grow in comparatively re-
markahly short space Of time
from sparse populated
Savagery 10 such robust eco
nomic and cultural strength and
beauty. It is difficult 10 forget
that most of this was done by
people who came here busted
empty handed-and did most
of this typically American job
at streamlined modern speed.
with precious little help from
anybody but themselves, or any
strength except that which re-
sided in their own courage and
Self-reliance.
Here where these events are
so recent in time that almost
everybody is aware Of them.
these principles may be more
clearly seen and believed than
in older communities which all
also celebrated this day. But
they shouldn't be forgotten any
where or fail 10 be impressed
on this new crop of citizenry
IT MAY be an indefinite. in
L tangible thing but II j. the
foundation principle Of tn :
Democracy. 1t is the thing that
made out of a savage virgin
continent in so short a time so
great and strong a nation. II
il is ever forgotten. we have
nothing to replace IT and our
strength will be gone.
II may be that in other coun-
tries. which never really knew
truly democratic institutions. a
strong society can be built and
maintained on the reverse
theory Of mans dependence on
the state, 5000 .'. -.
1t could never be done here
because man can't beco m @
wholly dependent on the state
without becoming wholly en-
shaved TO the state. Our people
have been so indoctrinated over
many generations with horror
Of any such subservience that
the change with us would be
simply impossible.
l like everything about this
occasion except its slogan: Il
Am an American
The average American, with
all his faults and virtues. is and
ought 10 be so characteristic OF
the principles here discussed
that II should be no more neceS-
Sary for him 10 60 around say
ing. Il am an American than
for a proud stallion 10 continue
to proclaim anna horse. -
Who is tho slogan intended "a
conVince-alien hearers or the
citizen himself?
1t is a little ridiculous.
Americanism resides in prin-
ciples, precepts and training that
we take with our mothers milk.
1t isn't any more likely 10 be
improved by this constant slo-
ganeering than Chinese culture
was advanced by similar repe-
tition in Confucian schools.
f,ts..th,,,oa b,, ty,,, Ecatures Svpd In