TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-11-11
A Word for the German
Americans.

Evening Post" deserves the particuia'
attention of the American press. ~
informs them OF the just causes OF com
! plant Of German Americans against the
numerous prints Of this country pup
lshed in the English language. In &c
! far American editors have sinned
through thoughtlessness and not Win
deliberate intent, we hope that this
letter will induce them to have better
regard for the feelings OF class OF their
fellow citizens who have given more than
ample proofs that they are loyal citi'
zens to their adopted country.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING
POST,
Sir: A veritable avalanche OF sym
patby, both practical and sentimental
ha- been poured upon the Belgian sui
ferers; almost as much has been show
cred upon the French; the English have
received their full share to overilowing;
even the Russians have not been forgot
ten There IL one class OF sufferers, how
ever, who as far as ] know, have re-
ceived nothing but cold looks and scarce
~ veiled hostility. | mean that company
Of native born Germans and those OF
German parentage who have made this
country their home, in some instances
for many years, aud who, nevertheless,
cannot forget the land Of their extrae'
ton.
These people, TO be sure, have not
been exposed 10 physical suffering, but
they have suffered mentally In way
that few Americans stop to realize.
Their position, since the outbreak Of the
war, has been indeed very cruel one;
they have been forced TO hear their
country DETAINED on every side: they
have hardly been able to glance at a
newspaper without seeing insulting head
lines; they have found themselves, in
short, through no fault Of their own,
outcasts in a hitherto friendly country
suspected characters, merely because
they belonged 10 the great German ma
tion.
1t happens that during the past two
months have been In rather close touch
with many ~ the so-csiled German
Amcricans-wit university professors,
men Of science, artists. lawyers. rnusi-
clans, sea captains, teachers, merchants.
men Of leisure--and their attitude has
been uniformly dignified, though abso-
lntelv despairing. Some of them have
beer made physically III by the atmos.
phere Of bitter hostility; others have
gone TO work desperately to combat q
thousand SANDERS; Others again have re-
treated within themselves, cut to the
heart by the unexpected and nnaeecount.
able detection OF old friends. This ter
rible war will have on its conscience,
besides the larger crimes, the very real
II smaller one Of having broken mp
countless chcrished friendships, Of hav-
ing wiped out as It were with a great
black sponge all sense OF gratitude. all
memories OF united past.
As I am Of the small company Of
Americans OF English descent who sym
pathize most heartily with Germany and
Austria in their gallant struggle, can
appreciate from actual personal expe-
rience the real agony of spirit that our
German and austrian citizens have been
called upon to endure, and in my opinion
they have exhibited splendid mettlc. In
spite Of all risks as TO their future
standing in the community, In spite OF
lin many ca sesl serious financial hf
culties, they have almost without excep-
tion, supported their fatherland man
fully, using the only weapons at their
command, the pen and the pamphlet.
and spending their money with truly
reckless liberality. They stand rracti-
cally alone, Just as Germany stands
alone! but like Germany they maintain
nm undaunted front. Who of us would
have liked them better had they denied
their fatherland; who Of us does not
admire them for their couragef ] for
one wish to pay them my tribute Of pro.
found admiration. II seems to me that
we can i'll afford to lose such citizens.
CLARE BENEDICT.
Cooperstown, N. Y, October 81.
IN REPLY TO PROF. DELBRUECK,
director Of this German Archaeological
Institute at Rome, who, in the name Of
German scholars and artists residing
there, had appealed to the sober judg.
ment of Italy concerning the alleged acts
Of vandalism by the German army,
number Of the most prominent men OF
Italy have joined in an open address,
which contains this passages 80 Just a
demand cannot be refused by any one
who has the true spirit Of the investi.
gator, and Il a devotee Of science and
art. We, tho undersigned, recognize
this, and feel irnpelled 10 declare that
such sense Of objectivity is. in our
opinion. the best proof Of the high cul.
lure Of the German nation" r.
dress Is signed. among others, by the