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