The times., 1898-07-30
GERMAN AMERICAN PATRIOTS.

A lively discussion has been started by a
letter published in the New York Herald
and signed "A True American
but Above All a German. The writer
said that no decent German-American
would ever fight agains5 his beloved fa-
therland This proved to be altogether
too sweeping an assertion, and many Ger
mans who considered themselves emil
nently decent hastened to reply to the let
ter In burning words. The result is graft
flying. There no braver men than the
Germans, and there are none more loyal
to their home and their government,
whatever 1t may be. Undoubtedly, an un-
naturaiized German living in this country
would nave right 10 go back to Ger
many and fight for her If he chose, in
the event of war, just as an American
settled in Spain would have a right to
come home and fight for the Stars and
Stripes; but the consensus of opinion
seems 10 be that most Germans would pre-
fer to stand by their adopted country.
Some OF the letters are follows:
An American, in recommending that
the wri.er return to Germany. says with
emphasis, ''he cannot be a reader of your
paper. because only intelligent persons
read the Herald
or any other country If my adopted coun-
try needed me- writes &C. B." THAT
man ought TO remember the old German
saying. Whose bread / eat his song |
sing"
Charles E. B.ehm writes:
I'm case of war with the Kaiser she Ger-
man-Americans would astonish him by
the numbers offering to fight for this
country and its glorious flag, which they
| have sworn to defend. Old Glory is first,
| right or wrong"
| Charles Weber finds the correspondents
! greatest sin IS his ingratitude TO the
/ United States. He compares the prosper
ity of the workman here to his hard lot
| in Germany. and adds:
| HE Is unworthy of the name of Ameri-
/ can citizen If he would take uD arms
against the country that gives him life
and liber.y. Give me America, Three
cheers for the Red. White and Blue and
/ If need be, down with the black, white and
red.
Adolph Nelson assures the Herald that
men such as But Above All a German
cut no figure among the rank and file of
the Ge-man-American citizens.
Who is this thing he writes. that
talks about Germau-Americans disgrace
ing their great nation by taking up arms
against Germany? He and his followers
should be known and their citizenship
| taken from them"
a. E. Dick. who says he is a German
American. writes:
I'VE are not German-Americans but
| Americans. first and always, and we owe
our love and support, and if need be our
lives. TO that country which opened its
arms to US. II is not TO be thought OF
| that conflict OF arms can ever arise be-
tween Germany and the United States,
Should this calamity occur. /. for one.
should cry shame upon that German
American who. in base ingratitude,
should refuse allegiance to his true
country"
Another writer. signing himself "A
German-Am merican," denies that Germans
have ever shown any animosity against
America He points out that all stories
10 that effect have originated from Brit
ish sources. where there exists jealousy
of Germany's Industrial and political sue
cess.
George L. Wheelock accuses the CORE
spondent of ingratitude. ''If he Is sub
ject of Germany. all right; but II he has
become a citizen Of this country, he de-
serves TO have that title taken away ard
TO receive no protection at our hands
One writer who signs himself For
merly a British, but Now an American
Citizen" thinks that sentiment similar to
the correspondents would not be toler-
ated in Germany from an American
"Th c." has not the slightest doubt that
''Above All a German" is simply a de-
plorable exception and that at heart 80
II per cent of .German-Amerieans will come
forth as true Germans. but above all
4 Americans.
"A German-Ameriean, but Above all an
American writes:
ANY German expressing such senti-
ments In the public prints and disgracing
| by such articles his fellow-countrymen
ought to be sent back to live under the
whip of the German government"
/ "A Norwegian-American, after scoring
: the correspondent, says: The American
nation is a just and fair nation and will
never go to war against the German,
| English or other nation without a just
cause. 1t is our duty and should be our
pride to stand by that country that pro-
tects US and will educate and protect
our children"
II am one of those miserable German
Americans. writes True German
American "who would not shrink from
disgracing their great nation by taking
: up arms against Germany He advises
the correspondent TO make canvass
among the Gerlpan-Americans and learn
their true sentiments.
"a New Jersey American" advises the
writer to make all haste to his fatherland
and never return. Yankee" styles the
correspondent a traitor if he should
happen TO be a naturalized citizen.
Physician" writes: Your correspond
ent had better transport himself to the
[ realms of the Kaiser. Though l am the
: son of a German father and German
mother 1 do not call myself a German
American, but an American"
Descendant of a German Soldier"
thinks the correspondent fled from his ma
, tive land to escape military duty, and
that being too cowardly to fight for his
own country he would not do so for any
other.
F. c. Kohr thinks the writer shows less
gratitude than a yellow dog. but thinks
he does not represent the true senti-
ments of German-Americans. american
expresses doubt whether the writer be a
and stupidity.
AN Old Soldier writes that no one can
t be a citizen of two countries, and that
the correspondent is a traitor and de-
serves a traitors death. "a True Ger
writer's sentiments and says there are
no more fight for Kaiser William than
5 they would fight for Spain.
: Frederick Won Beetsen writes: ''I was
/ born in Germany, but as citizen of our
great nation, / stand ready, with all 9TH
I er honest German-Americans who under
oath pledged themselves to the United
: States fhe day they became citizens, to
| defend ii against its enemies.
"An American" says that he has many
| German friends in America and is loath
to believe that the correspondent faith
fully expresses the sentiments of natural
| lied Germans in this country