Page Ten
DECEMB1
THE UNITED AMERICAN
us to maintain in all good faith those liberal institutions and
traditions which have been so productive of good. The bring
ing together of all these different national, racial, religious
and cultural elements has made our country a kind of com
posite of the rest of the world, and we can render no greater
service than by demonstrating the possibility of harmonious
cooperation among so many various groups. Every one of
them has something characteristic and significant of great
value to cast into the common fund of our material, intellectual
and spiritual resourses.
The war brought a great test of our experiment in amal
gamating these varied factors into a real Nation, with the
ideals and aspirations of a united people. None was excepted
from the obligation to serve when the hour of danger struck.
The event proved that our theory had been sound. On a solid
foundation of national unity there had been erected a super
structure which in its varied parts has offered full opportunity
to develop all the range of talents and genius that had gone
into its making. Well nigh all the races, religions and na
tionalities of the world were represented in the armed forces
of-this Nation, as they were in the body of our population.
No itiaM’s patriotism was impugned or service questioned be
cause of his racial origin, his political opinion or his religious
convictions. Immigrants and sons of immigrants from the
Central European countries fought side by side with those
who descended from the countries which were our allies; with
the sons of equatorial Africa and with the red men of our own
aboriginal population, all of them equally proud of the name
Americans.
We must not, in times of peace, permit ourselves to lose
any part from the structure of patriotic unity. I make no plea
for leniency toward those who are criminal or vicious, are open
enemies of society and are not prepared to accept the true
standards of our citizenship. By tolerance I do not mean in
difference to evil. I mean respect for different kinds of good.
Whether one traces his Americanism back three centuries to
the Mayflower, or three years to the steerage, is not half so
important as whether his Americanism of today is real and
genuine. No matter by what various crafts we came here, we
are all now in the same boat. You men constituted the crew
of our “ship of state” during her passage through the rougest
waters. You made up the watch and held the danger posts
when the storm was fiercest. You brought her safely and
triumphantly into port. Out of that experience you have
learned the lessons of discipline, tolerance, respect for autho
rity and regard for the basic manhood of your neighbor. You
bore aloft a standard of patriotic conduct and civic integrity,
to which all could repair. Such a standard, with a like com
mon appeal, must be upheld just as firmly and unitedly now in
time of peace.
Among citizens honestly devoted to the maintenance of
that standard there need be small concern about differences of
individual opinion in other regards. Granting first the es
sentials of loyalty to our country and to our fundamental in
stitutions we may not only overlook, but we may encourage
differences of opinion as to other things. For differences of
this kind will certainly be elements of strength rather than of
weakness. They will give variety to our tastes and interests.
They will broaden our vision, strengthen our understanding,
encourage the true humanities, and enrich our whole mode and
conception of life. I recognize the full and complete necessity
of 100 per cent Americanism, but 100 per cent Americanism
may be made up of many various elements.
If we are to have that harmony and tranquility, that union
of spirit which is the foundation of real national genius and
national progress, we must all realize that there are true
Americans who did not happen to be born in our section of
the country, who do not attend our place of religious worship,
who are not of our racial stock, or who are not proficient in
our language. If we are to create on this continent a free re
public and an enlightened civilization that will be capable of
reflecting the true greatness and glory of mankind, it will be
necessary to regard these differences as accidental and un
essential. We shall have to look beyond the outward mani
festations of race and creed. Divine Providence has not be
stowed upon any race a monopoly of patriotism and character.
Whether one traces his Americanism back three
centuries to the Mayflower, or three years to the steer
age, says the President, is not so important as w
his Americanism of today is real and genuine.
That is a broad guaged and fair measurem
citizenship standards. No matter in what cla
came, whether we are descendants of Mayflowe
migrants or we are the immigrants of a recent y<
day, we are in the same boat now and shoul
measured only in proportion to the contribution
bring in citizenship and the Americanism we LIV
The citizen of foreign birth who is not very fluei
the tongue of his adopted country may never del
flowery speeches of his Americanism and his pati
ism, but there are legions of those who LIVE and
emplify in their daily tasks a far higher standard
Americanism than those who loudly proclaim tl
fealty and devotion and invariably are found want,
where exemplary lives are measured.
SKELETONS
By Grace B. Starbuck
What if a heart has only once bloomed fair—
But once has breathed Love’s jasmine-scented air?
It has within its withered shape the glow
Of one night’s magic flowering long ago.
Has felt the brush of wings and caught the fire,
Of one night’s madness—one night’s wild desire.
So smile, dear heart! For though the muted tread
Of hopes and fancies of a day long dead.
Winds through your beating, deep within your crypt
Lie all the dreams which playfully you slipped
Into your soul before Time clasped the spring,
Imprisoning Beauty ’neath its -covering.
Him whom a little will not content, nothing will content.
—Epicurus,
The Portland
Telegram
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