The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-09-13
GERMANs ANp MTLITARTsM.

GERMANS AND NTLIT'ARTSN.
(Translated from Milwaukee Germania.) }
Most of our domestic politicians seem
to have a queer idea about the position
of our German-born citizens upon the
question militarisn. No one is better
able, so say the Democratic papers, to
see the importance of his question than
these very same Germans, who left
their father-land in order to escape the
calling yoke of militarism. Only the
other day a Democratic paper declared
that the Germans certainly did not leave
their country and the burden of mill
tarism in order to com c over here and
support that party which had placed it
on its banner. w. j. Bryan makes use
of this platitude in nearly every speech.
We are able to understand that the
Democrats have great hopes of catch
ing on account of the aversion of
the average American against imperial
ism and militarism, but with this ques-
ton, as they understand it. they will not
be able to catch many German votes.
For aside from the fact that an army
of 100000 men in country of $4,000,
600 people can hardly be called mill
tarism, they misconceive entirely the
sentiment of the German American in
regard to the military situation in their
old fatherland.
When we read the Democratic papers
or hear Bryan and his adherents we
might imagine that the whole German
american population was composed of
deserters from military dutits, or Of
people opposed to the militay system of
their fatherland That this is not true
is proven bv the great number of Ger
man veteran associations, whose mem-
bers enthusiastically keep in memory the
time when they served the fatherland.
The number of those Germans who
left the fatherland in order 60 escape
military duty is exceedingly small and
the percentage of those who on principle
are opposed TO the military system
dwindIes down TO almost nothing. 1t is
true the immense German army is a
great burden to the people, but every
German of common sense admits that on
pccount of tLe ioca4i~' ard S"--oundingS
GERMANY iS ro-r,neI'nd ~ -"'''a'1 a reo-
pIe urder arms and fhat for the safety
Of the en1o;-e Il IS s;r,ulv case of
recessitv German rilitarv life may be
hard school but whoever has alb
solved this duty. knows that it has
steeled him mentallv and physically tor
his whole future life ard seldom is a
man found of German birth in this or
the old country who does not look back
with pride and satisfaction to the two or
three wears when he was soldier in the
German army and wore the err1Deror, s
cloth. and who does not admit that his
success in after life is in . great meas
ure due to this very military service.
BRYAN should get himself invited once
to a reunion of German veterans and he
would soon cometo the conclusion that
he could accomplish but little with this
issue of militarism among the German
American voters.
Far from being opposed to military
service on principle, most Germans are
proud of the fact that they were in the
German army. And especially is this
the case with those who served in 1864,
&C and 1870. The Gerryn papers that
are for Bryan are careful in speaking
about this issue, for they understand
the question better than Mr.. Bryan OF
the average American, and they know
they will find little sympathy among
their readers in dealing with this sub
ject. We will not dispute single
moment that large standing armies, un.
der certain conditions may be fraught
with great danger to republican form
of government.
History teaches us that degeneratet
republics have been overthrown by large
armies. But we have not got to that
point yet. Nobody wishes it. Neither
the American people, Mckinley moi
Bryan wants it. No sane man sees any
danger in an army of 100000 scattered
about among 8o,ooo,o 900 people, and il
our free institutions were so weak anc
rotten that an army of that size, dis.
tributed over this immense territory
could endanger them, it would not b,
worth while to try and uphold them
for it would go to pieces anyhow be
fore long.
Bryan at present is riding the Ger
man vote with such persistence and per
severance that his true hobbyhorse, III,
silver question, is standing in the stable
unsaddled and unbridled, not knowing
how to kill time
A few days ago, speaking to an lrisl
audience, Mr. Bryan said. among Other
'l;'s"e. "If vnr want to lroN Mhat
r'ilitarisn means ask one OF those Ger
mans, who came over here to escap,
the military dirty of their couatry." w
would not be afraid to wager that no
single German of this class wa
among his audience and we doubt yer,
much IL one German in thousan,
came to this country in order to escap
military duty,
- - tges fs4