4
April 29, 1920
THE NORTHMAN
A STEP FORWARD
A Valedictory Article of H. J. Langoe, in which in turn created a new and composite
culture, with far-reaching possibilities.
the Pacific Skandinaven on advancing
But that which, in the beginning was the
from the Ranks of the Foreign
privilege of the immigrants—to speak
Language Press.
each their various tongues until they could
learn the new nation’s language of unity—
(Translated from the Norwegian-Danish.)
developed in time into a straining of this
^THINKING PEOPLE of our day no long- liberty and misuse of the privilege. It
er protest the fact that with the com­ became clear that this condition did not
ing of the Present, born of the Future, serve the best purposes. As time went on
there are attendant new-born thoughts. the national and racial fences were builded
People have come to understand that the stronger and stronger until it came to an
requirements of Yesterday are insufficient open declaration that each intended to
for Tomorrow and the new conditions keep and maintain separately and distinct­
ushered in on the wings of each coming ively, the language of his nationality un­
der this country’s shield and flag.
morn.
* * *
In the crimson glow of the glad new
An
opposing
mental
attitude developed
morning of Today new thoughts come to
take the place of those of Yesterday. But year by year against that which has been
the thought that has reigned for the day this nation’s greatest purpose—to bring
refuses to pass and reacts viciously all who dwell under the protection of our
against the new. Each new thought has
its reactionary and the progressive of
Yesterday usually becomes the reaction­
ENDORSEMENT BY PORTLAND
ary of Today.
POST, AMERICAN LEGION
While the forces representing new
thought are moving forward those incapa­
ble of further progress array themselves
Mr. H. J. Langoe,
in opposition. The people of Yesterday’s
Portland, Oregon.
thought are ever busy building fortifica­
Dear Sir: At a recent meeting of
tions to repel those of Today, desiring only
Portland Post No. 1, of the American
to remain in the thought-sphere of their
Legion, a motion was introduced by
cherished yesterday.
the Patriotic Campaign Committee
New ideas and new peoples have grown
and unanimously carried commend­
out of the grand old nations who lost step
ing you for your recent stand on the
with Time and reached a limit of progress.
great Americanization question and
So long as they moved forward with new
this Post consisting of 6000 members
thought there was progress. When they
expresses its appreciation.
became content with their condition, and
I am enclosing for your use a copy
their hostility grew strong enough to re­
of resolution that was introduced in
sist they began to crumble and other peo­
Portland Post and unanimously
ple and nations more fitted assumed their
adopted at the meeting of March 1st,
places in the march of progress.
1920.
* * *
Very truly yours,
In the history of nations there probably
JOHN A. BECKWITH,
never will be written anything more re­
Secretary.
markable than the story of America. New
shoots from many nations became trans­
Whereas, The American Legion
planted here m the new soil. Their trans­
took an active part in securing the
planting was the result of the reactionary
passage by the last Legislature of the
thought forces in the world of Yesterday
State of Oregon of the By-Lingual
where the new thought was being
Newspaper Act, and
strangled.
Whereas, this is considered by all
Here amid manifold opportunities a
Legion members to be a step in the
world-nation was born that possessed the
right direction for the accomplish­
greatest possibilities for achievement and
ment of a true spirit of Americanism,
perfection- So long as the country lay
and
open and undeveloped the desire for expan­
Whereas, one Mr. Langoe, editor of
sion held full sway. In this development
a Portland Scandinavian paper, has
the people became unyielding. Liberty
taken up the fight for the stand taken
was abused and misused, and when the
by the American Legion and in doing
various races came in closer contact it be­
so has suffered financial losses, and,
came clear that each, in their reasoning on
Whereas, such an act of true
many things, had retained something from
Americanism should be recognized by
their native soil that typified a Yesterday
the American Legion as being worthy
—things that did not fit into the scheme
of commendation, now therefore,
and meet the requirements of the greater
Be it and it is hereby resolved that
development. But when there came a call
the American Legion extends to Mr.
for changes in conformity to the new con­
Langoe and his associates, their ut­
ditions, the reacting forces rose in opposi­
most appreciation for his stand in
tion. Old customs had grown strong with
this matter and for the spirit which
deep hold on sentiment and against these
prompted it and also extends to him
the forces of new thought organized and
their heartiest wishes for his future
called for a new national flower, each petal
success, and
of which should be nurtured by and
Be it further resolved, that a copy
flourish in the same soil and be watered
of this resolution be forwarded by the
from the same spring.
secretary to Mr. Langoe with the
From the Old World countries the op­
compliments of the Legion.
pressed had come to the New World. They
gave of their culture to the new nation,
flag to one language standard. Without
this it is impossible to create a nation em­
bodying those qualities that will be de­
manded of us by the America of tomorrow,
if the foundation on which we are building
shall stand.
A pronounced unfriendliness to things
commonly called American has, little by
little, spread like a pall over the immi­
grant’s mind. He feels like a stranger
everywhere but cannot see or realize that
the fault is with himself, because he ex­
clusively seeks company with those who
speak his native language in churches
and societies, and as far as possible in
other associations. He has, for the most
part, read papers and books in his native
language. Editors, writers and leaders in
native language activities have fed the fire
of feeling that he was “a stranger in a
strange land,” and have in this manner
kept the immigrant loyal to the interests
of the private activities which have yield­
ed to them a livelihood.
As the vast homestead and colonizing
stretches in America became smaller and
smaller it became more evident that many
openly claimed liberties in this country
were not of the character that served the
best interests of the greater national
unity. Open alliances were formed between
certain nationality colonies and the coun­
tries from which these colonists came.
Outwardly they had to a degree govern­
ed themselves in accordance with the civil
regulations of the United States of Amer­
ica, but otherwise they had maintained
contact with the mental attitude socially,
and ofttimes politically, of the fatherland.
Blind to the consequences which this isola­
tion of the various nationality groups and
the niggardly mental attitude toward the
American viewpoint must bring. Tm»
state of affairs has aided materially in pro­
ducing a situation in which the fellow
citizen immigrant has, in all, save for po­
litical effect, in writing and speaking; been
less intimately considered among the
common American born class of our coun­
try’s citizenship.
The constitution of the United States of
America is broad and far-reaching.
Though it does not deny the liberty to
think and give expression in accordance
with individual initiative, it makes the in­
dividual severely responsible for his every
act. While there were new stretches to
populate as ever westward the course of
empire took its way, that intimate contact
could be avoided. Now it is impossible to
evade it.
*
♦
♦
It is now, for all progressives to rally to
the support of the great and impelling na­
tionality thought the object of which is to
bridge between past, present and future
enabling the progressive thought forces to
move forward unhindered and prevent the
possibility of disastrous clash between the
madly rushing radical movements of the
time and the rooted and reactionary. The
former are the brood of the latter.
♦ * *
The war and its attendant trials which
the people of this country both native and
foreign-born, have passed through, has
made the time ripe for reshaping many of
the “private preserve” nationality prac-