Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 245, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1920 — Americanism [ARTICLE]

Americanism

By LEONARD WOOD

Th* people n*v*r giv* op thair liberties bat under some delusion. — Edmwnd Bnrkoi Speurh, 1784. THESE are the days of delusions, but happily comparatively few Americana are allowing themselves to be deluded. A spurious "idealism” Is the mask for un-American propaganda. The true idealist Is constructive in his thoughts and intentions. The mock idealist is a destructionist and it is the destructionist “ideal” which is being preached today by the • native born anarchist of parlor and drawing room and by the foreign born anarchist of the soap box. Most of er than Americanism, themselves are deluded, but most of the alien preachers are not in the least deluded. They ' qpsent restraint of any kind, rale, law j and order. Their idea of perfect liberty i« the unrestricted right to do anything which their passions may dictate. They are for no government and last of all are they for the American government. It is certain that these preachers never can delude the American people to the point of Inducing them to give up true liberty, for a fiction, provided I the people are on their guard and that those of them who think lightly should be made to think rightly. The teachers of “Something better than is to he found here," know as well a* Edmund Burke knew that the people will never give up their liberties but under same delusion. Therefore It is that these teachers seek to de- I lude. They prey with argument up- I on the weaknesses, the cupidities and I tte passion* of men. The unthinking I are their quarry. They can do little I harm if their efforts are met promptly. I It is the high duty of Americans so I to meet these preachers of “that stat* I Biade perfect because it knows no

law." Burke knew the people. He was one of the champions in the British parliament of the American colonies and of their rights. It seems a soperfluous thing to say that the people wifi net give rip their Überties unless they are deluded. Liberty is the most precious possession which a man ha* and therefore it is inconceivable that willingly he would part with it The j strength at Burke's expression lies the fact that he said it was only piq are sodeluded that they win part I hmt I