Huntsville gazette., 1889-02-02
GERMAN AMERICANS.

Americans to the Land of Their Adop-
tion-America First, Last and All the
Time, Right or Wrong.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The question has
been asked what the attitude Of our Ger
man. American citizens would be in case
war broke out between the United States
and Germany, and the real sentiment OF
this portion Of American citizenship on
the subject of our present relations with
the German Government touching the Sa-
moan Islands is matter of considerable
interest and speculation. The German
Minister in Washington, as already re-
ported, is taking great pains to find out
through the German-American press and
other available means the German Amer
lean sentiment in the premises. The Ger
mans in this country are generally adj
mitted, in ordinary matters not involving
absolute hostility to the Fatherland, to be
quite as American as the Americans
themselves, but how they would feel ana
how they would fight If their adopted
country and the land of tneir birth should
be placed face to face in battle array is
yet an unsolved problem. 1t would be an
extremely new situation, and an expert
ment which has never yet been tried.
Many Germans left their native land to
came to the United States for the benefit
of a freer, easier life. The conscript laws
of Germany, to them, made life almost
uncomfortable there, and when it was only
to protect them from the claims and the
grasp of their Iron Chancellor that the
United States would interfere in their be-
half, it was easy for them to choose be-
tween one government and one country
md I'm ha
different case if they were asked
to go on board United States
man of war, or shoulder muskets and go
in the field in front of German army and
blaze away at their brothers and cousins
whom they left behind in the old country.
Congressman Guenther, Of Wisconsin, is
the most prominent representative Ger
American in Congress. He has no
hesitation in declaring for the United
States against Germany, all along the
line, in war, as we'll as in peace:
''There is going to be no war between
Germany and the United States," said
Mr.. Guenther to your correspondent.
''The two countries are too far apart to
make a fight possible. A battle between
the inhabitants Of Mars and Jupiter
would be as feasible and pretty nearly as
about any differences that may exist be-
tween opposing factions in little bit Of q
place like Samoa, where there are only
about thirty thousand people, such as
they are. all told. We may send out gun
boats to enter the competitive drill show
with the gunboats Of the German Empire
at Samoa. Our consular and naval off,
GERS and the consular and naval officers
Oe Co.- tall iOh tn
other and may send very spirited reports
to their respective governments, but these
are only harmless embellishments of dip
lomatic correspondence. They are sent
out there simply to point moral and
adorn a tale. to make life interesting and
TO impart picturesque aspect Of National
affairs.
mo hostile shot will ever be exchanged
in Samoan waters or elsewhere between
the men f-war sent there by Prince Bis
marck and Uncle Sam. American citi-
zens of German birth and German de-
scent know as well as any other class OF
American citizens where their duties be-
long. We will work for our country il
time of peace and fight for it in time Of
war if q time Of war should ever come.
When say our county, mean, OF course,
States of America. After passing through
the crucible Of naturalization we are no
longer Germans; we are Americans.
Our attachment to America can not be
measured by the length Of our residence
here. We are Americans from the mo-
ment we touch the American shore until
we are laid il American graves. We will
fight for America whenever necessary;
A Loot all
America against Germany; America
against the world; America, right or
wrong: always America. We are Amer
leans"
The Strained Relations Between the
state and Navy Department.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The official CEN
ters of Washington have awakened to a
sense Of the strained relations between
the State and Navy Departments arising
out Of q difference Of views as to the prop
er course to be pursued by the Govern
ment in the Samoan affair. The publica-
ton Sunday OF the correspondence be-
tween Secretary Whitney and Represent
ative Herbert, which has been made the
vehicle Of the information that the policy
Of unlimited patience pursued by the
State Department was not concurred In
by the Navy Department, can be inter-
preted only i'll one way, and TINT is in ac-
cord with the advance information given
Saturday. 1t is not in Secretary Whit
news nature to sit inactive and silent and
have his Department charged with its
share Of blame for policy which, in the
councils OF the Government, he strenu-
ously opposed. The rumor was current
here Sunday night that either Secretary
Whitney or Secretary Bayard will resign
within the next few days, the report even
going so far as to say that resignation
has already been offered to the President.
While it is not known that these rumors
have any foundation in fact, the present
strained condition of affairs in the Cab
met is undoubtedly the cause of their cir
culation. and the developments OF the
next few days will be watched with un-
| usual interest.
The State Department has been sub
iected to no little criticism since the pup
| iication Of Secretary Wh1tney's letter 20
Mr.. Bayard, in which he asks that GEN.
| mite policy be outlined for the benent OF
the Navy Department. The letter was
| dated January 5, 1889, but was not incluu-
| ed in the batch Of correspondence sent %
| Conrress. under date of January 10. Sald
| = member Of the Senate foreign relat1ons
committee Sunday:
t.caara,ary Whitney had good reasons