America First: Patriotic Readings (Illustrated) E-Book

Jasper Leonidas McBrien

• Herausgeber: Bauer Books
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

America First was the central thought in President Wilson’s address
to the Daughters of the American Revolution on the twenty-fifth
anniversary of their organization—their Silver Jubilee—in
Washington, D. C., October 11, 1915. The president declared in this
address that all citizens should make it plain whether their
sympathies for foreign countries come before their love of the United
States, or whether they are for America first, last, and all the time. He
asserted, also, that our people need all of their patriotism in this
confusion of tongues in which we find ourselves over the European
war.
The press throughout the country has taken up the thought of the
President and, seconded by the efforts of the Bureau of Education,
has done loyal work in making “America First” our national slogan.
This is all good so far as it goes—especially among the adult
population, many of whom must be educated, if educated at all, on
the run. But the rising generation, both native-born and foreign, to
get the full meaning of this slogan in its far-reaching significance,
must have time for study and reflection along patriotic lines. There
must be the right material on which the American youth may settle
their thoughts for a definite end in patriotism if our country is to
have a new birth of freedom and if “this government of the people,
by the people, and for the people is not to perish from the earth.”
The prime and vital service of amalgamating into one homogeneous
body the children alike of those who are born here and of those who
come here from so many different lands must be rendered this
Republic by the school teachers of America.
The purpose of this book is to furnish the teachers and pupils of our
country, material with which the idea of true Americanism may be
developed until “America First” shall become the slogan of every
man, woman, and child in the United States.

Leseprobe

Jasper Leonidas

America First: Patriotic Readings (Illustrated Edition)

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Table of contents

FOREWORD

America First was the central thought in President Wilson’s address to the Daughters of the American Revolution on the twenty-fifth anniversary of their organization—their Silver Jubilee—in Washington, D. C., October 11, 1915. The president declared in this address that all citizens should make it plain whether their sympathies for foreign countries come before their love of the United States, or whether they are for America first, last, and all the time. He asserted, also, that our people need all of their patriotism in this confusion of tongues in which we find ourselves over the European war.

The press throughout the country has taken up the thought of the President and, seconded by the efforts of the Bureau of Education, has done loyal work in making “America First” our national slogan. This is all good so far as it goes—especially among the adult population, many of whom must be educated, if educated at all, on the run. But the rising generation, both native-born and foreign, to get the full meaning of this slogan in its far-reaching significance, must have time for study and reflection along patriotic lines. There must be the right material on which the American youth may settle their thoughts for a definite end in patriotism if our country is to have a new birth of freedom and if “this government of the people, by the people, and for the people is not to perish from the earth.” The prime and vital service of amalgamating into one homogeneous body the children alike of those who are born here and of those who come here from so many different lands must be rendered this Republic by the school teachers of America.

The purpose of this book is to furnish the teachers and pupils of our country, material with which the idea of true Americanism may be developed until “America First” shall become the slogan of every man, woman, and child in the United States.

AMERICA FIRST ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgments for permission to use copyrighted and other valuable material in this volume are hereby tendered to authors and publishers as follows:

To President Woodrow Wilson for his three addresses “America First,” “The Meaning of the Flag,” and “Neutrality Proclamation.” To Secretary Franklin K. Lane for his speech on “The Makers of the Flag.” To Archbishop Ireland for extracts from his address on “The Duty and Value of Patriotism.” To Henry Watterson, Louisville, Kentucky, for the extracts from his lecture on Abraham Lincoln. To E. Benjamin Andrews and to his publishers, Fords, Howard and Hulbert, for the extracts from his lecture on Robert E. Lee. To The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indianapolis, for the poem by James Whitcomb Riley, “The Name of Old Glory.” To Henry Holcomb Bennett for his poem entitled, “The Flag Goes By.” To Christopher Sower Company, Philadelphia, for the poem by Edward Brooks, entitled “Be a Woman.” A DRAMATIZATION INTRODUCTION These debates may be considered as an oratorical contest with prizes awarded accordingly if so desired. It adds interest to the work. TABLEAU—THE SPIRIT OF SEVENTY-SIX CAST OF CHARACTERS S A C General Washington and his Army } Leading the Army in “The Spirit of ‘76” THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ACT I. S I.— J A . Mr. President:—I second the motion. ( ) B F . Mr. President:—I second the motion. ( ) J H . Mr. President:—I second the motion which Mr. Adams has offered. CURTAIN ACT II. S I.— R S . I second the motion. B F . Gentlemen, you have heard the motion. As many as favor the same make it known by saying “aye.” ( ) The ayes seem to have it, the ayes have it, and Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams are elected. J A . Gentlemen, it seems to me you have taken snap judgment on Mr. Jefferson and myself. T J . Yes, gentlemen, you have. J A . Thank you, gentlemen, for the compliment. T J . I join Mr. Adams in thanking you, gentlemen, for the confidence you have in us. M . A . I second the motion. ( ) M . J . Mr. Adams, I suggest that you make the draft of this Declaration. M . A . I will not! M . J . You should do it. M . A . Oh, no! M . J . Why will you not? You ought to do it. M . A . I will not! M . J . Why? M . A . Reasons enough. M . J . What can be your reasons? M . J . Well, if you are decided, I will do the best I can. M . A . Very well, when you have drawn it up we will have a meeting. ( ) S II.— S III.—T —” ” M . A . Good evening, Mr. Jefferson. M . J . Good evening, Mr. Adams. M . J . Thank you, Mr. Adams, I fear you are too extravagant in your praise of my work. ( ) M . F . Well, gentlemen, have you completed the draft for the Declaration? M . F . Gentlemen:—I move that Mr. Adams be requested to report this Declaration to the Congress as desired by Mr. Jefferson. M . S . I second the motion. CURTAIN ACT III. S I.— ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) W H . Mr. President, before voting on this motion, I wish to have the paragraph on slavery read again. ( ) M . H . The secretary will read the paragraph on slavery again. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) S T . New Hampshire! ( ) S T . Massachusetts! ( ) S T . Rhode Island! ( ) S T . Connecticut! ( ) New York! P H . New York is excused from voting on this question. S T . New Jersey! ( ) S T . Pennsylvania! ( ) S T . Delaware! ( ) S T . Maryland! ( ) S T . Virginia! ( ) S T . North Carolina! ( ) From the painting by Trumbull THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS S T . South Carolina! ( ) S T . Georgia! ( ) J A . Mr. President, I move that this Congress do now adjourn. B F . Mr. President, I second the motion. ( ) The motion to adjourn has been carried unanimously and this Congress is therefore adjourned. S II.— Here repeat the Tableau of the Spirit of Seventy-six. ACT IV. S I.— ( ) CURTAIN FOOTNOTES: [2]This speech is adapted from Paine’s “Separation of Britain and America.” [3]Adapted from Wirt’s supposed speech of Lee. [4]This dialogue between Adams and Jefferson is taken from Adams’s letter to Timothy Pickering. [6]This is a part of Webster’s “Supposed Speech of John Adams.” [7]John Hancock. [8]Samuel Adams. [9]From Webster’s “Supposed Speech of Opposition to Independence.” [10]From Webster’s “Supposed Speech of John Adams.” [11]From Webster’s “Supposed Speech of Opposition to Independence.” [12]From Webster’s “Supposed Speech of John Adams.” [14]From Wirt’s “Supposed Speech of Patrick Henry.” [16]From Wirt’s “Supposed Speech of Patrick Henry.” [17]A monument was recently erected at Dover in his honor. [18]On July 9, 1776, New York instructed her delegates to sign. AMERICAN PATRIOTISM GEORGE WASHINGTON WHAT IS PATRIOTISM Jasper L. McBrien. AMERICA FOR ME Henry van Dyke AMERICA FIRST I was about to pass on, when The Flag stopped me with these words: “But,” I said impatiently, “these people were only working.” Then came a great shout from The Flag: “THE WORK that we do is the making of the flag. “I am not the flag; not at all. I am but its shadow. “I am whatever you make me, nothing more. “I am your belief in yourself, your dream of what a people may become. “I live a changing life, a life of moods and passions, of heartbreaks and tired muscles. “Sometimes I am strong with pride, when men do an honest work, fitting the rails together truly. “Sometimes I droop, for then purpose has gone from me, and cynically I play the coward. “Sometimes I am loud, garish and full of that ego that blasts judgment. “But always I am all that you hope to be, and have the courage to try for. “I am song and fear, struggle and panic, and ennobling hope. “I am the day’s work of the weakest man, and the largest dream of the most daring. “I am the battle of yesterday, and the mistake of to-morrow. “I am the mystery of the men who do without knowing why. “I am the clutch of an idea, and the reasoned purpose of resolution. “I am no more than what you believe me to be and I am all that you believe I can be. “I am what you make me, nothing more. “Earth highest yearns to meet a star,” Thus, building wiser than he knew, Washington had taken no small part in cherishing the seed of a nascent nation. WASHINGTON AT MOUNT VERNON Washington, the friend of Liberty, is no more!