May 1926
THE UNITED AMERICAN
THE MAKING OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
(Continued from Page Eight)
which meant that any Christian might worship as he
pleased without losing any of his political rights. Here
was laid the second great foundation stone of our
system.
The third of the long steps forward had its begin­
ning in the north. The people who settled Massachu­
setts did not belong to the aristocracy of England; on
the contrary, they were all from the common people,
all without wealth, and all deeply devoted to self-
government. They realized that a government by
the people depends upon the ability of the people to
share thought. They saw that this cannot be gener­
ally done unless the ability to read is given to all.
They felt that the schools should be supported by all
just as all cooperated in local government. Hence,
soon after the settlements were made in the north,
there was established an educational system in which
every citizen had a working share. At first, sub­
scriptions were asked for the schools; a very short
time later every town was required by law to main­
tain an elementary school. Thus was started the
third long step forward in self-government, — the
fitting of men and women by education to share in
the thinking of others.
Let us never forget that these three foundation
stones are necessary to our structure of government
and let us never fail to defend them and uphold them.
We are ruled by representatives whom we, ourselves,
choose. We must take great care to choose only
honest, patriotic men and women to serve us. Free­
dom of worship is necessary in our system. This
means that church and state are separate. We must
never allow our government to come under the rule
or influence of any church. It is the right of every
American citizen to worship as he wishes, to belong
to any church he prefers, to be wholly free in his
thinking about religion. The ability to share in the
thinking of others as written in newspapers and
books is the right of every American. Hence, we
must never fail to support well our free schools. We
must furnish to our children good schools and good
teachers. Without this teaching, our government
would become a nation of class rule, that is, a nation
in which a large class, because of ignorance, could
not vote intelligently for either men or measures. All
these rights are fundamental. Great wars have been
fought for them; much blood has been shed in their
defense. We enjoy them in America because these
early, brave, devoted, patriotic, independent settlers
demanded that they be- granted, that they be made
foundation stones in any government under which
they had to live, and were willing to fight in their
defence.
FINDING HAPPINESS IN OUR WORK
Anon.
HAT DO YOU see in your day’s work, my friend?
What does it mean to you ? Do you see anything
outside of the salary? • Do you see a life-building in it?
Do you see great possibilities for success and happiness ?
Do you see self-improvement, growth, mental expansion in
it, a richer character, a broader, wiser man? Do you see
your vocation as. a training-school for future greatness or
W
Page Seventeen
do you see yourself tied down in an uncongenial environ­
ment with nothing better in view?
Do you see only hours of drudgery or monotony in the
day, and a mere living ? Are you sorry when the day
begins and glad when it ends? Does the dollar-mark so
blur your vision, so fill it, that everything else in your
day is covered up? Or is money a minor consideration
and do you see a lot of real interest, enlarged capacity, a
possible partnership, a possible business for yourself, in your
day’s work?
A man committed suicide in New York leaving word
that his excuse for his act was that he was tired of dress­
ing and undressing. How many people there are who com­
plain of the monotony of their work, and the tiresomeness
of repeatedly performing the same duties, over and over again,
day after day!
ALFRED E. CLARK
of PORTLAND
Candidate for the Republican
Nomination for
United States Senator
Paid Adv. — Alfred E. Clark for United States
Senator Campaign Committee.
‘ ‘ Will give the people’s business the benefit of
my business experience.”
For State Representative
VOTE
53
X
JACK N. BARDE
Republican Candidate from
Multnomah County
Pledged to tax reduction, preservation of the game
fund, direct primary, abolition of so-called “peddler’s
license,” revision of auto law, old age pensions, war
veterans’ support, and many other reforms, backed
by the experience of a successful business career.
Paid Adv.
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