Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-04
German-American Solidarity.

In the course of its discussion of the new
attitude of some Of the American citizens
of German birth and descent toward the
'1mperialism'' issue The Star has had occa-
sion to suggest that the circumstances were
not propitious for any approach to racial
solidarity In the midst of the homogeneous
people constituting the republic OF the
United States. 1t has deprecated all sug-
gestion Of hyphenizing off the body polite
into sections more or less distinct. each
pulling its own selfish way toward disin-
tegration, when the need of the republic
is for a centripetal rather than such a
centrifugal force. This is precisely the at
titude assumed by NJ Won Brandt in the
course Of thoughtful article on Germany
and the United States which recently ap-
peared in the Deutsche Review. After not
Ing a tendency on the part Of some Of the
Germans now citizens Of the United States
to resent suggestions Of American friend
ship for England and to appeal to race
cannishness to effect a political movement,
the writer suggests that this disposition is
not popular in a land which depends for
it's strength upon the harmonious national
spirit of all it's component parts and that
1t is more than likely to fail. He then
says:
THE Americans of German descent will
DO wisely II, IN tQelr organization anu et-
forts, they do not lose sight of this strong
and thoroughly justitiabie desire for the
unity of the government. and speak and
act only as Americans. Their success WI!
be no less sure in consequence, for 1t Is
precisely as citizens of the United States
that they have the right to point out the
services which Germany, on more than one
occasion has rendered to the land of their
adoption In every direction, and at times
when the English brothers who now press
forward were open enemies, or very doubt
full friends
This Is excellent logic. Just in proper
ton these German descendants and i'm
migrants cling to the line Of American al
legiance as citizens Of one country they
will be able to contribute the more strongly
to the public opinion which formulates the
policies Of that country and dominates its
doctrines. And conversely in direct pro-
portion to their diffusion Of national inter-
ests will their domestic influence weaken
and lose effect. Race resentments Of course
occur in these states. Won Brandt himself
notes the unfortunate experiences gained
by the emancipation of the negro as Illus
trative of the fact that such lines Of de-
narration do not aid the nation but tend
rather to lower it's status and to exhaust
its energies. Any organization Of "Gefm man
Americans based. strictly upon narrow
race lines therefore can exert only mini
mum of power as public force, for 1t
would Immediately challenge not only the
national spirit Of all the other groups con-
tributing to the entire mass, but the al
spirit of each separate group. Won
Brandts view seems to be In effect: 1.-The
best kind of German-Am ericanism is that
which loves the Fatherland for what it has
given us and for what it has given to our
new home. and We love this new home best
of all for what it has given to the world
and for the opportunity which it has at
forded us to prosper and to participate in
our own government" Such German
Americanism Is constructive. broadening.
praiseworthy. 1t will increase the influence
of its opponents a thousandfold more than
the narrow, shortsighted kind which tends
to Isolate "German-Americans'' from
Americans.