undertakings if they are convinced that he has their welfare as his goal. There is no public confidence equal to that of the American public, once it is obtained. What is not generally understood of the American people is their wonderful idealism. The impression exists in European countries- perhaps less generally since the war that America is given over to a worship of the dollar. While between nations as between individuals, comparisons are valueless, it may not be amiss to say, from personal knowledge, that the Dutch worship the gulden infinitely more than the Americans the dollar. I do not claim that the American is always conscious of this idealism; often he is not. But let a great moral question arise, and the result always shows how close to the surface is his idealism. The only approach, in fact, to the American character is, as Sir James Bryce has so well said, through its idealism. It is this quality which gives the truest inspiration to the foreign-born in his endeavor to serve the people of his adopted country. He is mentally slow, indeed, who does not find that America will make good with him if he makes good with her. But he must play fair. It is the straight game that the true American plays, and he insists that you shall play it too. Evidence there is, of course, to the contrary in American life, but never is this true in the long run. Sooner or later the public discovers trickery. There is no limit to the foreign-born who comes to America endowed with honest endeavor, ceaseless industry, and the ability to carry through. In any honest endeavor, the way is wide open to the will to succeed. Every path beckons, every talent is called forth, and every efficient effort finds its due reward. In no land is the way so clear and so free. -Abridged. CLASS ACTIVITIES 1. What instances of waste have you noticed in your school? In your neighborhood? In your community? 2. Is it any more important for the foreign-born than for the nativeborn to form habits of thrift? Explain. What is thrift? What is waste? 3. What factors does Bok think are necessary for success? Explain each of these and show why it is or is not necessary for success. 4. What does Bok say Roosevelt considered the chief curse of America? Mention examples of this evil which you have noticed. 5. Why should we respect law and authority? What is the meaning of the word "respect" as used here? Give examples. 6. What does it mean to vote? What agencies are there in your community to teach the foreign-born the meaning of voting? Inquire at home, or at the public library. 7. What is naturalization? What are the advantages of naturalization? How may a foreigner become naturalized? (See H. C. Hill, Community Life and Civic Problems, 156-158.) 8. Does Bok believe Americans are "dollar chasers"? Explain. 9. What does Bok mean by American idealism? Can you give any illustrations of such idealism? 10. Explain Bok's statement, "There is no limit to the foreign-born who comes to America endowed with honest endeavor, ceaseless industry, and the ability to carry through." Mention examples from your reading or observation which seem to you to prove that his statement is true. II. Complete the following outline of this selection: I. How America fails with the immigrant. a. She teaches him wastefulness. b. C. d. II. How America succeeds with the immigrant. a. She offers him wide opportunities. b. C. 12. Topics for paragraph compositions or two-minute talks: a. An instance of wastefulness in my home. b. When I began to be thrifty. c. The time I was not thorough. d. One reason I like the policeman in our neighborhood. 4. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MILES LEWIS PECK AND CARL SCHURZ Carl Schurz, when only nineteen, took part in a revolt against the tyrannical rulers of Germany. A few months later, after rescuing a friend from prison, he sought safety in America. Here he mastered the English language and became a naturalized citizen. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he entered the army and rose to a position of high rank. After the war he served as a member of the United States Senate and as Secretary of the Interior. He also took a prominent part in politics. It was during a political campaign the following correspondence took place: BRISTOL SAVINGS BANK BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT. HOWARD A. WARNER, PRESIDENT CARL SCHURZ, Esq. MILES LEWIS PECK Dear Sir: Your printed letter is at hand. Conditions here seem very unsatisfactory to you. I wonder you do not return to your native land. That I think is the best way for those who do not take the view of the rulers of this country voters. Yours respectfully, MILES LEWIS PECK, ESQ. MILES LEWIS PECK. the Dear Sir: I thank you for your communication. I have received similar letters in the course of almost every political campaign, but they were uniformly anonymous. Yours is the first which the author was kind enough to sign with his name. This deserves recognition, and entitles it to an answer. Your demand that I should leave the country on account of political disagreement with Mr. Miles Lewis Peck is unkind. I have lived in this country over fifty-two years, and as, to judge from your letter, you are still young, it may be that I was one of those voters of whom you speak as the "rulers of this country," before you were born. I have become attached to it. During that half-century I have also tried to serve it, in peace and war, not to your satisfaction, perhaps, but as best I could. And now to be turned out of it because I do not agree politically with Mr. Miles Lewis Peck, of Bristol, Connecticut, is little short of cruel. But the rule you lay down is also unreasonable. In justice you will have to apply it, as well as to me, to all other persons in the same condition. You will then, supposing you happen to be in the majority, send all of those who differ from you politically out of the country, the foreign-born to their native lands, and the native-born to the homes of their ancestors. But it is probable, I may say certain, that the remaining majority would then, according to your rule, send the new minority out of the country. Now you will see that this operation many times repeated might at last leave Mr. Miles Lewis Peck, of Bristol, Connecticut, on the ground, lonesome and forlorn, in desolate self-appreciation. But it may also happen to you to find yourself accidentally in the minority of voters, and then, according to your rule, you would also be sent out of our beloved country, to the home of your forefathers. This, no doubt, would be distasteful to you, and I assure you you would have my sincere sympathy. It would show you, however, how unstatesmanlike your theory is. Let us agree, then, that it is best, after all, for us to respect one another's right, as good Americans, to differ politically, and that this country is large enough to hold both Mr. Miles Lewis Peck, of Bristol, Connecticut, and his humble fellowcitizen, CARL SCHURZ. CLASS ACTIVITIES 1. Give Peck's reasons for thinking that Schurz should leave the United States. 2. Why did Schurz think Peck's suggestion unreasonable? Would Peck's plan, if carried out, result as Schurz declares? Explain. 3. In your opinion what was Schurz's real purpose in this letter? 4. Explain the idea of American liberty which Schurz had in mind as expressed in this letter. 5. Volunteer work. Here are several topics for oral reports, material for which can be found in Schurz's Reminiscences. a. The rescue of Kinkel. b. Why Carl Schurz came to America. c. Early experiences of Schurz in America. d. How Schurz helped elect Lincoln. e. Schurz on the battle-field. f. Schurz as a member of the President's cabinet. 5. THE LAND WHERE HATE SHOULD DIE DENIS A. MCCARTHY This is the land where hate should die Its sons to answer freedom's call; That builds and binds the nation's wall. This is the land where hate should die I serve my country well when I Respect the creeds that are not mine. From present rights to bar him out. This is the land where hate should die Of this great land in which we live! |