Cosmopolitan Character of Population

The United States in her philosophy of self-determination emphasizes the ideas and ideals of human rights and human associations. In the fulfillment of this policy she opened wide her gates to the peoples of the earth, inviting them to share with her the blessings of liberty. Somewhat less than half the racial stock of America's 108,000,000 white inhabitants are of British blood. Of the 95,000,000 whites, in 1920, 14,000,000 were born in foreign countries and 23,000,000 were of foreign or mixed parentage. There are 1,672.000 Germans, 1,600,000 Italians, 1,250,000 Russians, 500,000 Czechoslovakians, 465,000 Austrians, 370,000 Hungarians. There are 1,500,000 foreign born over 10 years of age unable to speak the English language. This foreign population supports over 1,000 newspapers published in 30 different languages. There are no more untapped racial reserves. Full privileges of citizenship. - The immigrant to America is particularly favored under the laws of the United States. Before the native-born youth can exercise the right of franchise he must live under the influence of our system of Government, acquire his education, and enlarge it through associations and experience for a period of 21 years from his birth to his majority. It is possible for the immigrant (18 years or over), subject to certain restrictions to issuance of first papers, with little education, without that knowledge of our Government, association and experience, obtained only through years of residence, to have granted to him the full privileges of citizenship five years after his arrival. Resultant duties. - In return for the opportunities and privileges established through her own sacrifices and paid for with the enormous exactions of treasure and human life, she expects - and has the right to demand that those who accept her hospitality shall respect her principles - that those who elect to live in the security and comfort of her homes and institutions shall give due honor and award full allegiance to her Constitution and shall in no instance, either by choice or through ignorant acquiescence, seek to despoil the land in which were bred freedom, equality, and opportunity. The cosmopolitan character of the population of America emphasizes the burden which rests upon every citizen to become fully informed in the underlying principles and ideals of our republican form of Government. Class consciousness. - Class consciousness and class activity is the result largely of the intrusion of ideas of government entirely outside of the fixed principles set forth in our Constitution and should be no more tolerated in our country than we would expect our principles, if introduced by expatriated Americans, to be accepted by another nation. Immigrant not all problem. - The immigrant is not all problem. He has been one of the outstanding assets in the development of America. Slowly, but surely, there is being assimilated and amalgamated in this country the bloods of practically all nations, in the development of a racial stock of exceptional worth in 'its vigor, ability, and character.