g
DECEMBER, 1923
THE UNITED AMERICAN
ly all of our folk songs (with the exception of the
Negro songs of the South) and given us nearly three-
fourths of our orchestras, and their compatriots have
written most of our music.
They become Americans — not by force, but in a
satisfactory degree in proportion to the education
they are able to acquire and by meeting the right sort
of Americans—the kind who believe in the great
Emancipator’s creed : “Charity for all, and malice to-
towards none.”
abouts, and he had several days’ start. The detective
found in the missing man’s house a ticket entitling
him to borrow books from a certain library. He went
to the librarian and asked him for a list of the books
the defaulter had been reading. He found that they
were books pertaining to Central America. He con
cluded that the man had started for that place, and
telegraphed to New Orleans, asking the police to
watch all departing steamers, giving them a descrip
tion of the man wanted. The next day the fugitive
was arrested. The books the man read revealed all
that was necessary to the detective.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES IS
A SHIELD TO PROTECT YOU FROM INJUSTICE
WHETHER YOU are a citizen or about to prepare
The spirit of self-determination which for some
for citizenship, you should study the CONSTI years has been busy dividing the people of European nations
TUTION OF THE UNITED STATES to learn your is not making much headway in China where the population
is estimated to be 428,000,000. Nominally China is still one
rights and duties. It is the supreme law of the land, political
division, save for sections governed by bandit ele
with which all state and municipal laws must con ments who have made warfare a livelihood respecting neither
form. You will find that the Constitution of America— life nor property. China covers 4,278,000 square miles and
Establishes a stable government, responsible to the it is reasonably safe to assume that there are millions of
people in China who are still ignorant of the fact that the
people for your safety and welfare.
Manchu dynasty many years ago passed out of existence and
Extends citizenship and the right to vote to the that their country to all intents and purposes is trying to
foreign born men and women who comply with its practice a republican form of government. There is no com
liberal naturalization laws. Gives voters a voice in parison between the civilization of China and of Europe, yet,
the government, through officials they help elect. while China has some serious problems to solve before it can
a reasonably well organized and dependable form of
Allows you to hold any office in the government for establish
government, its situation is seemingly more hopeful than the
which you are qualified. (The Presidency is the only situation presented in Europe, where the pendulum is con
office from which a person of foreign birth is de stantly swinging in the direction of the extreme uncertainty
that borders on chaos.
barred.)
Grants freedom of the press, freedom of speech
While we are waiting for the “judges” to decide
and freedom of peaceable assemblage, within legal
who is to receive the $100,000 American Peace Award offered
limits. Protects your rights of property and pro by
Edward W. Bok as an incentive to have all brilliant minds ~
hibits the government from taking your property engage in a literary contest, presenting conclusive arguments
without due process of law, guaranteeing to every for a comprehensive plan by which the United States may
cooperate with other nations to achieve and preserve peace in
citizen freedom of religious belief.
the world, in other words solve the problem how to prevent
Provides equality for all before the law.
war, we are constantly supplied with a flood of free contribu
Accords you the following safeguards to prevent tions
on the subject how to so “modernize” warfare that
[oppression: Requires that a legal charge be made “bloodless” combats only may be staged in the future when
before you may be held to answer for a crime, and the disgruntled rulers decide to fight out some imaginary and
right to know on what charge you may be held fancied wrong. Peace among the nations of the world is evi
dently not a thing that can be easily attained. If human
prisoner.
equality was accepted in principle there should be no trouble
[ Grants the right of trial by jury within a reason at all to make peace a permanent institution. While people
able time, and permits you to have a counsel for your continue to be satisfied with being somebody’s subjects and
Defense. Does not allow you to be tried more than perfectly willing to live or die according to their rulers’ mad
cnee for the same offence, and permits you to be tried desire the dove of peace is likely to hover at a safe distance.
in the state and district where the crime was com
What has become of the matter whieh was up some
mitted. Enables you to compel by law the witnesses
time ago in the English parliament to abolish all hereditary
in your behalf to appear in court, and does not com titles in Great Britain? It was introduced in the House of
pel you to testify against yourself.
Commons by Arthur Ponsonby, a descendant of Earl Gray,
Prohibits excessive bail or fines, and forbids cruel one of the foremost British statesmen of the past century.
The Tories protested (naturally), but the La'borites cheered
r unusual punishment.
wildly. There are some splendid signs of democracy in the
Forbids a search of your home without a warrant. making in old England. Royalty notions and lordly titles do
not mix well in a democracy of the people. The lords are
Prohibits slavery in any form.
hanging on as long .as they can. Crowns will not be worth
The Constitution provides lawful means for mak- much,
even as a wedding gift, after democracy makes a little
ng amendments, when the voters so desire, so that more headway in the isles of our cousins across the sea.
s growth may keep pace with human progress.
STUDY THE CONSTITUTION!
People who frequently exclaim: “What is the world
WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
k EVERAL YEARS ago a detective was called upon
I by a company that had been defrauded by its
manager, to find and arrest the culprit. The thief had
bsconded, and there was no clue as to his where-
Colors by Munse»
coming to?” should be able after analyzing the question, to
answer aptly “America.” For the most of the world seems
to be headed our way.
A vaudeville house in New York was robbed some
time ago while the performance was in progress. The quality
of the performance can best be judged by the attitude of the