The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-05
ABSURD VIEWS REGARDING GER
MAN-AMERICANS.

Few Americans carry in stock such a di-
versifed lot OF whimsical notions as does
Mr.. Poultney BigeIow, journalist, author,
traveller and lecturer. He has done some
irst-rate newspaper correspondence, writ
ten some very readable books and lectured
acceptably on history at several Ameri-
can colleges, but for a man who knows
a good deal concerning men and affairs he
occasionally gives utterance to very ridicu-
lous views. OF this character is an article
which he contributed to a London paper
a few days ago dealing with German immi-
gra ton TO the United States. Perhaps his
argument on the subject cannot be better
summarized than is done by a cabIegram
which says:
Mr.. Bigelow estimates one-third of the
American people TO be of German descent,
and says il is obvious that If any appre-
ciable portion of this number could be
united and organized under German aus
pices it would prove a nucleus for an i'm
pOrtant German state. The writer then
analyses the difference I'm the character of
German emigration to the United States be-
fore and since 1870. In the first case the
emigrants were republicans at heart. haV-
ing tasted the bitterness of mOnarchical abb
sOlutism. They became American citizens
@iAI were dCludlt1 DN SUCH HdITe0 OF the
German government that had war broken
out between the United States and Ger
many IL is fair 10 assume they would have
been willing TO fight against the fatherland.
The war OF 1870. however, continues Mr..
Bigelow. made Germany a great power.
With the growth OF freedom in Germany
came the growth of the millionaire aris-
tOcracy In America. as powerful and harm
full as anything OF it's kind i'm Europe. Now
adays. therefore, the German emigrants
are actuated almost entirely by a desire
- ~aIn III. H. =
United States as aliens until they accumu-
late a fortune: they then return 10 the
fatherland.
Mr.. Bigelow lived a good deal in Germany
and is at heart a patriotic American. He
has also been known as an admirer and
personal friend of Emperor William, but
in the foregoing statement he does great
injustice 10 both peoples and imputes to
Emperor William clandestine and sinister
motives which no honorable head Of a gov
eminent could entertain. BY Implication he
imputes TO the Emperor a design to unite
and organize German-Americans into a
nucleus for a German state. Aside from
the impossibility OF such an undertaking
the remotest attempt in that direction
would be regarded as a deadly insult by
the United States.
Mr.. Bigelow's reference TO 1.-THE million
aire aristocracy" OF this country is an in
suit to an entire class OF citizens who as
a body represent as much and as true pa
triotism as any other equal number OF citi-
zens OF any class. Most persons have not
forgotten. II Mr.. Bigelow has, that in every
great national emergency the rich nc,
OF the country have been as prompt as any
in rendering their support and services
to the government. and their gifts to edu-
cational and charitable objects are a form
OF patriotism that only they can practice.
The ~insinuation that 1.-The millionaire aris-
tocracy" exercise a baneful influence or
the mass OF the people implies that the