The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-21
WARM DEFENSE OF GERMAN NATION

Germany, tells us that we are beaten all
along the line by the Germans.
Only a total abstinence from informa-
ton of what is going on In the world out
side of our country can close our eyes TO
the fact that Germany is a leading nation
and shows sufficient proof of a powerful
and healthy development. Has Mr.. Mellen
not seen that or has he Travelled through
Germany wearing smoked glasses?
Mr.. Mellen says: 1.-The religious life Is
undermined by the beer and wine habit"
The investigation in regard to that must
also have been very superficial.
What is religion? Religion is life, Is,
reality. Where the highest Christian prin-
clples are translated into life there we find
religion in its best expression. The re-
ligious life of a nation Is manifested by
the conscientiousness and sense of re-
sponsibility, as well as by the foundation
of such institutions as do justice to the
commandment of love to our n%eighbor. :
The conscientiousness of the Germans Is
notorious. And in regard to the fulflment
Of the high commandment I refer to the
testimony of President Roosevelt, who re-
| peatedly has recommended German insti-
tutions as models to our country. The
huge war successfully fought against all
evils which endanger public welfare proves
how loudly the pulse of religious life Is
/ 0CoNiAo III iAdhJ = ~ AtS CH'1'
cry over the corruption in politics in our
country, the desperate fight of labor
against capital, the enormous loss Of life
resulting from oarelessness, a strong proof
how little We really caro- for our neighbor
how little Christianity is practised in pub
lice life? One hundred million dollars are
yearly distributed by the German govern
ment among the veterans Of industry, moi
, as aims, but as well-deserved pensions.
The systematic fight for protection against
loss of life through negligence has como
in Germany to such results that accidents,
which we read almost every day In our
papers and which cost a. many lives in
one year as a war, are becoming scarce.
As to religious education, the church in
Germany Clearly separates In social poll
tics questions of technical and ethical
natures. The church has to deal only with
the ethical side and leaves the other to
the professional politicians. Therefore, the
church fights neither for open nor for
closed saloons, neither for beer, nor for
water. but works for ethical principles.
educating characters who can live up to the
word of our Lord. A is yours" No man
can be made honest by locking up what
he possibly could steal, but by educating
him up to the principle that it is wrong to
steal.
Hon. Andrew d. White said in his fare
we'll speech when he left Berlin az Amer
lean ambassador: 81 appreciated fully
what our motherland, England. had given
TO my country. England has left with its
treasures It's administration a valuable
heritage. My own country possessed, as I
must justly appreciate. perseverance and
energy, but then 1t appeared to me that
as supplement to the gifts we had received
from England, as accomplishment TO the
qualities which were developed on Amer
lean grounds, we needed the German in
f~iuence. the German devotion to its ideals
of civilization, the German solidlty and
conscientiousness, the German patience in
searching the truth, the German confidence
in the value of science, literature and art,
the German readiness to sacrifice, as 1t is
documented In the foundations of those
institutions in which all those qualities
are cultivated"
The United States are developing into
a great individual nation. The different
nationalities In this country taking an
active part in building 1t up, each In pro-
portion to their qualitive and Quantitive
strength. The vigor Of a nation is based
on civilization and culture. Civilization
includes I'll what industry, commerce, in
ventions, can furnish for the comfort Of
the outer life. Culture Is a summary Of
all ideals, ethics, art, science, which add
to the outer the comfort Of the inner life.
In building up this latter constituent part
of national strength the Germans are taxi
ing a prominent part. They have helped
to build this nation and will further do
so in full loyalty TO this, their new home
country. But they also know that the
roots of their strength. the main force of
those elements of culture, were laid In the
old country. And although our Germans
here are good and straight people, they
are not inclined to accept the honor to be
called the Cream of the Nation" They
leave the cream" all to Mr.. Mellen. Most
respectfully yours, 4
REV. M. A. L. HIRSCH,
Pastor of st. Paups German Evangelical
Lutheran Church.
213 Paramount avenue. Newark. N. j