New Britain herald., 1915-09-22
A Bohemian Protest.
Springfield Republican. l

An open letter has been addressed to Miss Jane Addams and other ad- vocates of peace by the Bohemian al- liance of America, with headquarters in New York. In an accompanying explanation it is said: There seems to be on foot in this country a move ment for the ending of the war with out much regard to the terms upon which peace can be had at the pres- ent time. In our judgment such peace would be only detrimental to the real cause of humanity and therefore also to this country" What is meant is further indicated in the question: Are you aware of the fact .hat Germany and Austria are the
 worst oppressors of small nationali- ties?"
 To- what extent the Czechs or Bo- hemians as they are better known here are united on this question is perhaps uncertain, but early in the war a strong stand was taken by their organizations in Chicago, and their press seems to be strongly anti German. It does not follow that the Boheniians here fully reflect the feel ing of Bohemia, which of course is much divided. A large part of the
 
 milan nobility is partly German in blood and ultra-Austrian in feeling
 Also Bohemia is the home of Pilsner beer. Yet the nationalist reawaken- ing which has been strong in Eu-. rope for a century has affected Bo- hemia as potently as any other coun- try, and Austrian tyranny has been felt in proportion as Czechish aspira- tions have grown. -. -I
 This national feeling must be al- lowed for in the assertion that Ger many and Austria are the worst op- pressors of small nationalities." The heart knows its own bitterness. The truth is that such a bad pre-emin- ence cannot be settled absolutely, for the same empire may show a very diff ferent face under different conditions. Russia, Germany and Austria, props of the old holy alliance" against popular rights, have all given subject nationalities sufficient cause for de- testation; which is worst depends on the particular case
 Austria, for example, has treated the Poles far better than Germany or Russia while toward it's Italian subjects it has shown a hateful op- pression. Russia has treated its backward tribes, as American trav- elers have testified. better than the Indian has been treated in America, while toward high-spirited and long, civilized peoples like the Poles it has resorted to cruel oppression Ger many has shown a conscientious re- gard for the health, schooling and material wel1-beng of its subject races. but has been most ruthless of all in trying to stamp out their na- tionaIity. Hence it is that so many of the little peoples that do not love Russia would regard German victory as a disaster. If Bohemian patriots have for years been intriguing with Russia, it is not with any desire of being brought under the rule of the czar. but with the hope that Russia would extend protecting hand to the S1av nationalities. Their desire is to have Austria broken up, and their greatest fear is the domination of Austria by a triumphant Germany.
 Eloauently as the Germans amongst up plead the vital necessity of the fatherland to expand, Americans must be reminded by the counter-pleas of Bohemians, Poles, Slovaks, Italians and other groups strongly represented here, that such expansion can only be at the cost of other fatherlands. | For such a ruthlessly efficient organ izing nation as Germany has become, conquest means what conquest has never meant before; it is no longer ] merely a matter of tribute and ad- ministration. but deliberate scienti- fic and relentless program of stamp 1 ing out un-German nationalities and un-German culture. It would mean the end of nations that have survived the drums and tramplings of a thou sand conquests. And this is one of 1 the things which the Bohemian na- tional alliance brings to the attention of those in this country who call for | peace without regard to the terms | unnn which neace can he had at tho 1