Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 241, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1920 — Americanism [ARTICLE]

Americanism

By LEONARD WOOD

We shall teach that this heritage es ours has been confided from generation to generation to the patriotic keeping and loving care of tree Americanism, and that this alone can preserve it.—Grover ' Cleveland t Speech before the New England society, Brooklyn, December 21, 1891.

WHEN Grover Cleveland, a great ■ Democratic president of the United States, uttered these words, be gave a promise for the present and for the future. He said “We shall teach." He did-teach and he contln- ' ued to teach the Xnierlcnnism In which he was so-fervld’a believer. Since his day ■'lt has been taught, and under Providence Americans will conHuue to teach ft until the end of time. The Ameriynu&iu upon which Cleveland was dwelling was that and Is that which was confided, as he puts It. as a heritage from the American generations of the past unto the generation of the present in which he lived. land WeW. ns all reading and thinking men knew and know, that the heritage of true liberty, which Is the heritage of true Areericaidani. caine down from the Fathers, and that in its essence It was the same in the speaker’s day that it was In the day when It first found voice. If Is the same today.

Americanism Ims been given Into the patriotic keeping and loving care of the people, neveland puts tbisjn another way. but It means the same tldoM. He speaks of the .heritage having Been committed into the keeping of true Americanism. therefore it Is that true Americanism Is in the keeping of itself and of its fellowship of believers. A good nmfiy other isms have been called by unthinking men Americanisms. Men’s thoughts on what constitute true Americanism may differ, but in the end they come together in the one thought, that the essential Americanism is that which keeps thte country what the Fathers intended it to be —a place of law, order and liberty. The necessity tor teaching that this heritage of liberty of ours has been confided to us from generation to generation and that It Is as precious now as ever, seemingly, but perhaps only seemingly. Is shariier today than it has been In many years. There have been times before this when some men despaired of liberty. There are always hopeless ones among us. It Is those who know the pricelessness of the heritage which has come down to us. and who know that men of understanding will not throw it away, who always are ready to enter into the field to combat the doctrines of either tnosa who wouiu give way simply oecauss they despair or those whose desire and Intention is to destroy it.