Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-09
A nnheminn Niennoint.

WILDER, Neb Sept ITO the Editor
OF The Bee: In a communication sent by
me to one OF our Nebraska editors a few
days ago, stated that a soldier OF any
nation, who is fighting in a battle against
the enemy and who is sent to kill his fell
lowmen, Is no Htenderfoot" and himself
facing death at all times, is apt to resort
to brutality and atrocities which In time
of peace he would resent and abhor to the
limit. Your correspondent, Mr.. Matt
Spader, states that he regrets that the
German soldier is pictured in the news
papers OF today as a savage and deplores
the unnamable lies that slip in print about
the atrocities OF the German army and he
calls such statements trash coming from
lying England and France.
l could not help to think how easily his
statement is refuted by the article on the
first page of The Bee headed, "Louvain
Horrors Told by Victim, to say nothing
of all other eye witnesses. II is useless to
try to shield a soldier of any Of the war
ring nations In such a war. and It is pitt
full to have a man call others liars when
no himself is overcome with race preju-
dice and fails In his statement to adhere
TO truth Mr. Spader says America should
be grateful to Germany for furnishing her
quota Of men who fought valiantly for the
preservation Of this union, but ne forgets
that all other nations were represented in
the line Of battle for this same just cause.
Further let me call attention to a corre-
spondence in same issue OF The Bee,
signed d. s. This man, whatever may be
his name, says. among other things, that
there is a strong national feeling among
the Slavs against Austrian, Hungarian
and German governments, under which
they live, but he fails to explain why
such feeling exists. He either does not
care to expldin or is ignorant OF the facts
In question. Perhaps he does not know,
for instance, that the once Kingdom OF
Bohemia was forced by prolonged wars
with her enemies, and after the loss OF
the best blood OF her nation to inyolun-
tarily become part OF the German Austria,
and that in Prague. the capital city OF
Bohemia for over q century the Boz
hemian language was forbidden to be
spoken in public and that all schools and
public affairs we're conducted In the Ger
man language, and that 1t was not until
after prolonged protest and hard ma
tional struggle that the Bohemian Ian
Austrian courts
Mr.. d. s. also states broadly that in
the same city no German signs or notices
are tolerated. In the year 1871, when l
last visited the city OF Prague, there were
more German than Bohemian signs In the
city and the American visitors returning
from that city in recent years will UNI
doubtedly testify that German signs and
literature is still beautifully found In this
bohemian capital personally know that
all postofficc and all official seals and
many Of the legal documents are express
sive OF both of the languages.
Let me kindly ask Mr. ID. S. how the
Russian. Bohemian or other Slavic signs
and literature would fare in Berlin or any
other German city. and would he have the
| courage to explain how the majority OF
the Germans love the SlAvs? I do not
wish to entertain any race prejudice and
all men living under the neutral stars and
stripes of united America should bury
race hatred promptly. l number among
my friends many Germans and think az
| much OF them as do of my friends of ali
other nationalitles. but cannot calmly
read assertions wrongfully published
against any man, men or nation
Mr., ID. 5. Truthfully states that the
ancient Slavs were people mostly devoted
to agriculture and averse to war, bal
when he says that the Slavs were tn,
last people to enter the sphere OF modern
civilization he Is laboring under a deiu.
sion and Misrepresentation. unless he con
siders the modern warfare and sharE
practice as such a sphere. I may only
quote that history shows that the univer
sity OF Prague, Bohemia, established II
lSS was considered one OF the creates
and foremost schools OF learning, and be
ms magnificently endowed. brought for
eigners TO 1t from every part OF the worl,
and II was here where the Germans an,
other nationalities obtained their benefi
cent early education.
Neutrality OF the American people Il
these conflicts should be upheld in TIN
greatest measure. The correspondents OF
these subjects should be honest and brinl
square dear' judgment in their utter
anees for all nations and above all let n
uphold our government in its great effort
for peace and good will toward all people
OF the earth. JOHN F. SPIRK.