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About The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip. (Portland, Or.) 1923-1927 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1925)
Page Ten THE UNITED AMERICAN thru with in other countries, from which came more immigrants. I speak particularly of those in England because they had most direct bearing on the formation of our national government. Then came the Swedes, the Finns, the Danes and the Norwegians, also liberty loving peoples who brought us added stability and strenght, and in recent years we have received millions more of immigrants from the South of Europe who have brought us the vivacity, the cheerfulness, the optimism, the art and the music of their sunshiny lands. From the blending of these many peoples the American type has been built. ♦ * * Today, one-third of our people are of foreign parentage and most of the others have some blood in their veins other than the English. Hence we have in the American the better qualities of many peoples, — the stability, the sobriety, the calm judgment from the north and west of Europe, the vivacity, the trust and the happiness of the Celt. For one hundred and fifty years we have carried on successfully an experiment in government. Surely it can no longer be called an experiment. Ought we not to go on building and strengthen ing it? Upon you we depend for help. ♦ ♦ ♦ Why should we love America? No country has greater physical advantages. Our climate is temperate and favorable for high develop ment. Our crops are reasonably sure. Our forest resources are enormous and our water powers are great. Our mines are of great value. Hence we have become a nation of great wealth and great power. We have more miles of railroad than all the rest of the world together. ■ We excel in telephones, tele graphs, machinery, farm products, almost everything. We pay better wages to our laboring men and the returns of our merchants are better. We give our citizens greater participation in government and we do our best to protect them in their rights. We have greater opportunities for our children in our schools and libraries, and so it is in everything. ♦ ♦ ♦ Ought we not to place great pride in America ? Have we not the right to call on you, our adopted children, to love this new home and to be proud of its progress ? So the lesson I would leave for you who come to us from abroad is this: As the people from foreign lands have, in the past, helped to make America great, so you, the aliens of to day, must help to make America greater. To do sb, you must understand her and the ideals upon which she was builded. You must know the duties and responsibilities of citizens,. You must become a part of this great nation by entering into an active citizenship. Such policy, if properly carried out, means in America confidence not hate, law not anarchy, justice not exploitation, happiness and prosperity not dis- JANUARY, 1925 content and poverty, and a better chance for your children than you have enjoyed. Let me emphasize this in conclusion: There are many imperfections in the adminis tration of our government, but no government can rise higher than its citizens. Make America better, stronger and greater by loving it, by being proud of it, by understanding it, by becoming an active part of it; that is, by be coming a devoted, loyal, understanding citizen. The Evening Schools are conducted to help you to do these things. You will find no better avenue to becoming an American. LITTLE BY LITTLE Anon. Little by little the time goes by — Short if you sing through it, long if you sigh; Little by little — an hour a day, Gone with the years that have vanished away; Little by little the race is run; Trouble and waiting and toil are done! Little by little the skies grow clear, Little by little the sun comes near; . Little by little the days smile out Gladder and brighter on pain and doubt; Little by little the seed we sow Into a beautiful yield will grow. Little by little the world grows strong Fighting the battle of Right and Wrong; Little by little the Wrong gives away, Little by little the Right has sway; Little by little all longing souls Struggle up nearer the shining goals. Little by little the good in men Blossoms to beauty for human ken; Little by little the angels see Prophecies better, of good to be; Little by little the God of all Lifts the world nearer the pleading call. A NEW DEFINITION OF A KING rp HE HOUR of examination had arrived. The classj 1 was asked to write an essay an “Kings.” Al bright student who had analized the title and its relations to men turned in the following crisp and practical composition: The most powerful king on earth is Wor-king;| the laziest, Shir-king; one of the worst, Smo-king;| the wittiest Jo-king; the quietest Thin-king; the thirstiest, Drin-king; the slyest, Win-king, and the! noisiest, Tal-king. MY DAILY CREED Anon. Let me be a little kinder, let me be a little blinder To the faults of those about me; let me praise a little more» Let me be when I am weary, just a little bit more cheery» Let me serve a little better those that I am striving for. I Let Let Let Let me be a little braver when temptation bids me waver» me strive a little harder to be all that I should be; me be a little meeker with my brother that is weaker; ■ me think more of my neighbor and a little less of me. I
