Speech #680051869

Respect for law and order. a recognition both of the rights of the individual and of the authority of the duly appointed magistrate. were to them the foundations of civic duty. (Vol. 2. pp. 45.) In speaking of New Zealand. Mr. Bryce says: The country has grown steadily and not overswiftly in wealth. and has preserved the purity of its stock without that inrush of ignorant immigrants which North Americans have reason to regret. (Vol. 2. p. 331.) Speaking of the practice of local selfgovernment as the best training of a citizenship for a democratic government. he says: The New England States of the North American Union. until they were half submerged by a flood of foreign immigrants. taught the same moral. (Vol. 1. p. 78.) In discussing the forces which weaken the traditions of free government. such as Americans have up to this time cherished. lie says: Various have been the causes that have weakened or destroyed old traditions. Sometimes the quality of a population is changed. it nmy be. as happened in Rome. by the Impoverishment of the bulk of the old citizen stock and the Increase in the number of freedmen. it may be by the Influx of a crowd of immigrants. ignorant of the history of their new country. irresponsive to sentiments which the old inhabitants have cherished. The English stock to which the farmers and artisans of Massachusetts and Connecticut belonged has now become a minority in these States. (Vol. 1. p. 140.) These are not the words of a new Member of Congress. but speak the experience. observation. and ripe scholarship and philosophy of this great world observer. declaring a fact which Is disturbing American students and alarming the American people. I wonder if this sinister power now apparently headed by the Sons of Italy is already strong enough to prevail against the Sons of the American Revolution and all theirkind. including the American Legion. whose membership knew no defeat in open warfare?