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Page 29 text:
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Graduation Essays AMERICA AMONGST THE NATIONS Since time immemorial this earth has l)een the scene of strug’g ' les for existence and for su])remacy. Primeval man fought wild beasts, early Roman conquered Greek, Teuton ousted Celt. Spain, France, England followed each other in ra])id succession as mistress of the world. It is the period during which England was crowding out France that first in- terests us. It was then that hardy xA.nglo- Saxons laid the foundation and formed the nucleus of this great nation. Even they sought the very privileges that to- day form the seceret of successful and powerful government of our magnificent republ ic. Yet it is a far cry from their few meagre settlements at the heads of bays and on the banks of rivers adjacent to the sea to our present vast land dotted with huge cities of industrious inhabi- tants aggregating a total population of over one hundred ten millions. Having first proved their unshaken determina- tion to uphold their rights and liberty, these first x mericans adopted the well- known American unpremeditated im- perialism. Disa])proval of forming for- eign alliances was declared and followed by the decree of the policy “hands off” to Euro])ean powers. Such independence was unquestioned by the addressed na- tions. Henceforward the United States was recognized as a growing power to be considered in all international affairs. America’s im])erialism has never been a plotted and foreseen seizure of territory. Rather has it merely evolved from a per- fectly natural desire and impulse for the next thing beyond. Closely following this ])olicv, the territory increased by leaps and bounds through ])urchases and seiz- ures necessary for the defense of the commonwealth. Boundaries were fixed on the north by treaties with our amic- able neighbors, the British, and on the south by rather inij erious annexation until continental United States attained its ])resent expanse. Although a house divided against it- self must fall, it can be rebuilt more strongly than ever and of the same ma- terial. This was proved sixty odd years ago by the bloodiest civil war of all time succeeded by a marvelous reconstruc- tion. The finished product was an indis- solul)le Union which j ressed forward more readily to the task of carrying on the work of the rei)ublic on this conti- nent. The American sphere of power and influence elsewhere resulted later when it became necessary to acquire or control various small dependencies of other countries both for their own protection and for the defense of our increasing commercial and social growth. However, the Great ar was the deciding factor in the tendency toward the world su- ]U ' emacy of the United States. Today this great democratic nation stands at the head of the list ready to meet all comers. She is even ])repared to challenge Great Britain’s claim as mis- tress of the seas. The United States is the creditor of the world today not merely in a pecuniary sense but also as the deliverer of the Old World from tyr- annical autocracy. Of such vast import- ance is she that she has become the key- stone of the structure of international affairs. Holding protectorates and naval bases all over the world, she should be equal to any situation that arises at home or abroad. Such has become ‘‘the government of the people, by the people, for the ])eo])le !” Nevertheless, this republic, driven by the impulse toward greater heights of success, owes its ])remier ])osition not to its government as a government alone. It is to the nation as a ])eople and to the nation as a country that it must look for inspiration. There have l)eeen instilled in the great American ])eople certain ideals and ])rincipals as a guiding light. The fundamentals which formed the corner- 27
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Page 30 text:
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stoiH of the United States still endure; and the ri. ' hts established by the Puri- tan fathers remain unaltered in spirit and coni])letely permeate the entire race of Americans, d ' he first of these is per- sonal freedom. This does not provide for selfish abuse of ])rivilei es by egotistic individuals. It does provide for general security of ])r()perty and liberty of per- son restricted only by demands neces- sary for the ])ul)lic welfare. Morevoer, it allows freedom of s])eech and ])ress, and the ri 2;ht to worship according to de- sires. It may here he stated that with all this freedom, the United States is funda- mentally a Christian nation. Yet it does not believe in any inter-relation of church and state. Our great country has thrived through its policy of church se])arated from state. Even in the present age of speed and thoughtlessness when dogmatism is fast disappearing, the American people remains steadfastly a God-fearing race of as steady and trust-worthy type as that of generations ])ast. Equality is closely allied to personal freedom inasmuch as it embraces it. The expression of this ideal includes as well as racial equality several other phases. In America every man is entitled to justice. Efe is given a trial before a jury of his peers. Therefore, naturally every man is entitled to own property that he can rightfuliy support. But perhaps most of all in the American mind, every per- son is entitled to an education. The United States is reputed to have the UKjst perfect system of free public schools in the world. Many of the indivi- dual states now support universities for those who desire further training. Of course, the many colleges and univer- sities throughout the country were founded because of this same American l ride in this phase of the ideal, equality. Lincoln explained it all for us when he said. “Advancement — improvement in condition — is the order of things in a society of equals.” “Make the world safe for democracy!” Who will ever forget that war-cry? Democracy is closely related to both per- sonal freedom and ecjality. Democracy is that fellow-feeling that is America, It was the spirit of that ideal that heli)ed New York City gain its name. “The Melting Pot of the Nations” ; that enables America to take unto herself aliens and transform them into true Americans ; that ultimately settled the slavery question in the ‘ 60 ’s. Patriotism is all embracing. Its fine, unconcpierable spirit upon occasion over- helms all desire for personal liberty. I.ove of country results in a willingness to submit to self-imposed authority to { reserve the government, and is fur- thered, doubtless, by “the intense faith which Americans have in the soundness of their institutions and in the future of their country.” These ideals then have built up a strong, self-reliant people. As a country the United States is very nearly a world. There is no need here to relate how America’s unlimited resouces enable her to be self-supporting. Hence it is clear that the people and the country make the nation. The people are neces- sary to develop the country ; the coun- try, to support the people. However, the United States also to a degree over the rest of the world for her rapid progress. She has taken ad- vantage of the work of German scien- tists and militarists, of Erench and Ital- ian artists and authors, of English re- search men of every type, of the wealth of the occult Orient. In a different way she owes the Allies in the Great W ar for their protection of her interests until she was on the field. Our country gained about thirty bil- lions of dollars and a tremendous amount of exi)erience from the war period. Other nations were not so fortunate and did not escape unscathed. Should not Ameri- ' a do the magnanimous thing and turn to help those countries? She could never hope to pay for their millions of dead but she should do what she could. America is considered essentially a material na- tion. Europeans picture American ideal- ism as a continual grab for the “almighty dollar.” It is not through her finances alone, however, that this republic must 28
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