The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-15
WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED7

They are making good deal. OF
comment in Berlin-and wholly unjust
iiiable comment it is-upon tho fact
that Germans in the United States arc
not coming to the relief Of the Kaiser
in his military tax exactions. II is
pointed out that only $4,000 has been
received from Germans living in the
United States toward the payment of
tho Empire g increased military expen-
ditures whereas Germans living in the
city of Antwerp alone contributed three
times as much as that. The feeling in
Berlin is that this is proof that the
German home feeling in the United
States is not very strong, and especial
ly that "former German subjects of
Germany living in the United States
would not be sympathetic and helpful
to Germany in the event of war with
the United States. y
Well, as to the latter we should hope
the United States are among the very
best citizens we have. They are pa
triotic, they are devoted to Individual
liberty, and they abhor tyranny and the
exaltation Of imperial dogmas and de-
crees. During our Civil War, the Ger
mans proved their complete devotion to
this country. multitudes Of them seal
ing that devotion with their blood.
They were found everywhere in the
army, from 'the private in the rear
ranks" to the major-general in com
mand, Their fighting qualities were of
the best, and their enthusiasm for the
war was as pervading as that of any
class Of our citizens. We are fully con
vinced that in case Of such a deplora-
ble event as war between Germany
and the United States, they would raj
ly to the standard of the Republic as
nobly as they did in the Civil War.
Why should Germans living in the
United States come forward to help
pay the increased military expenses in
Germanv7 1t was to get from under
just such burdens, and to enjoy the per
sonal freedom and liberty that was de-
MED them in their native land that the
Germans flocked to the United States
in such numbers. And then, what in
terest have Germans in the United
States in helping to share the tremen-
dously increased military burdens of
German? Against what power is the
increase made1 If against France, why
should the Germans in America take
any interest in such animosity or war
fare7 Germans living in this country
have nothing against the French or
France. If it is against Great Britain,
the same may be said as in the event
of supposed war with France. There
is no reason why Germans in the
United States should take any interest
in that sort of a war
On the general proposition, Germans
in America, like the rest of us, find
abundant use for their money in their
business, in their household expenses.
in their charities and benevolences.
and in the multitude Of calls that daily
life imposes upon them in common with
other citizens. for contributions and
expenditures, Why should they pay
their money for an increase in the Ger
man army and navy! What is such an
increase to them? What benefit can it
be to their descendants' The idea that
Germans residing in America and their
descendants would give such support as
seems to have been expected, to the in
creased military programme of Ger
many, Is hard to comprehend. II IS
gratifying, also, to know that the Ger
mans In America have contributed com.
paratively little to this inflated Ger
man war programme, In fact. the
greatest mystery about it is that they
should have contributed anything at all.