The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01
ALL AMERICANS.
HE statement has been frequently made that the
 policy of the Kaiser is affected by the number l of Germans in America

policy of the Kaiser is affected by the number
 of Germans in America.
 With nconsiderabe exceptions the of German birth and blood in the United States are American citizens They not subjects of the empire, but citizens of the republic. So 1t is with the bulk of immigrant population. They not English, Irish nor Scotchmen. They are Americans Their service is due and will be freely rendered to this country because of European ties antagonisms but because is their country and their allegiance any other forsworn
 While there has been some unWarrantable talk about religious aspects of the present war, it is not true that we are fighting Spain because of the re- lgious beliefs of her people Religious wars are over The grudges of the centuries have long been probated and not to be reopened and pleaded in modern struggle This country and England have caused 1t to be understood in the world that religious and poli tical allegiance have relation to each other Men of antagonistic creeds have the civil rights and find them protected by common flag. In the United States there IS Catholic patriotism and Protestant patriotism It is plain American patriot isnl felt by all alike no matter by what form and ritual they worship. Herein is the strength of our Government. To it all the creeds of Christendom are alike, and Jew, Gentle and infdel have precisely equal standing They all fight in armies trade in marts and toll in shops and fields under the obligations of common citizenship, and the same requirement. of honor to uphold the Govern ment which gives them equal rights of conscience
 Other Governments may have to play one creed against another Ours commands them all in the name of that equality and toeration which it secures to them.
 Nationalities on our soil elevated to the same plane of equality They sought this country freely It compelled no man to come They receive its citizenship and enjoy it equally with those to whom it is birthright and must equally defend 1t. If the German empire and this republic should clash the Kaiser would look in vain for German subjects The spirit of people Tn this respect had final lustra ton in our Civil War. The State in which man was born and whence he had migrated did not hold his allegiance Thousands of families had soldiers in both armies They at idea, and its importance obscured ties of birth and blood What native Americans did then is expected now and for of naturalized Americans, and they will not fail
 We cannot assert our private judgment as to what country will fight what alliance 1t shall make in its interests, they We may fight people with whom their native land is in alliance but they cannot therefore put off their allegiance like worn garment and, staying under flag, refuse to defend to follow where 1t leads in aggression They may quit our jurisdiction and abandon our pro- tecton for another if they choose, but that must be settled with their individual conscience These re- factions of importance, because 1t Is evident that through this the United States will rise to
 policy that increases contacts with the diplon acy and affairs of the nations and enarges the risks of friction that may chafe any or every nation. whose subjects have received immigrants with whom we have freely shared American birthrght What adds to the power and prestige of this nation its Government will do and therein will command the person and the purse of every man under its flag