Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1915-06-17

statement to the commandments:
To the German-Americans: Permit
me to address word to you as one
American citizen sQeaking to fellow
citizens in whose patriotism he has
entire confidence.
1t is natural that in contest be-
tween your fatherland and other Eu-
ropeans nations your sympathies
should be with the country of your
birth. It is no cause for censure that
this is true; it would be reflection
upon you if it were not true.
Do not the sons of Great Britain
sympathize with their mother cOun-
try? Do not the sons of France SYM
pathize with theirs? Is not the same
true of Russia and Italy?
Why should it not be true of those
who are born in Germany or Austria?
The trouble is that the extremists on
both sides have mistaken a natural
attachment felt for birthplace for
disloyalty to this country.
Wilson Unjustly criticised.
The president has been unjustly
criticized by the partisans of both
sides-the best evidence of his neu-
trality. If he had so conducted the
government as to wholly please eth
er side it would excite not only as
tonishment but misgivings, for par
tisan cannot give an unbiased judg-
ment; they will of necessity look at
the question from their own point OF
view, giving praise or blame accord
ing to the act, regardless of it's real
character, helps or hurts the side
with which they have aligned them
selves.
The fact that the administration
has received more criticism from
| German-Americans than from those
in sympathy with the allies is due to
the fact that while both sides are at
liberty under international law to
purchase ammunition in the United
States, the allies, because of con-
troll of the seas, have the advantage
of being able to export it.
1t is unfortunate that partisan
supporters of Germany should have
overlooked the legal requirements OF
the situation and have thus misun-
derstood the position of the admins
| tratlon.~-- -slsssss a..,e4-
President Perfectly Neutral.
The administration position has
not only been perfectly neutral but
it could not have been otherwise
without palpable and international
violation of the rules governing neu-
trality. This government is not at
liberty to materially change the
rules of international law during the
war because every change suggested
is discussed not upon it's merits as
an abstract proposition but accord
ing to the effect it will have upon
the contest.
Those who wanted to lay an en-
barge upon the shipments of arms
defended their position on the
ground that it would hasten peace,
but it is strange that they could have
| overlooked the fact that the only
way in which such action on our part
could hasten peace would have been
| by helping one side to overcome the
other.
Repeats Private UtteranceS.
| While the attacks made upon the
| president by the extremists OF both
sides were unjust, it was equally un-
| just to suspect the patriotism OF
those who took sides.
1 feel we'll enough acquainted with
the European born Americans to be-
| lieve that in war between this
country and any European power the
naturalized citizens from that coun-
try would be as quick to enlist as
native born citizens.
AS am now speaking to German
Americans, l am glad to repeat in
public what I have often said in pri-
vate and would have said in public
before but for the fact that it would
not have been proper for one in my
official position to do so-namely:
that in case of war between the Unit
ed States and Germany-if so i'm
probable a supposition can be con-
Observation-Disclosures would
be as prompt to enlist and as faith
full to the flag as any other portion OF
our people. What I have said in re-
gard to the German-Americans is an
Introduction to an appeal which I
feel it my duty to make to them.
Wilson Friend of All.
First-If any of them have ever,
in a moment of passion or excite
ment, suspected the president of
lack of neutrality or lack of friend
ship toward the German government
and the German people, let that
thought be forgotten, never again to
be recalled. I have, since my resig-
nation, received numerous kilograms
from German-Americans and Ger
man-American societies commencing
my action. I think the senders of
these kilograms understand my posi-
ton, but that no one may mistake it,
let me reiterate it:
The president is not only desirous
of peace but he hopes for it, and he
has adopted the methods which he
thinks most likely to contribute to-
ward peace. My difference from him
is as to method, not as to purpose,
and my utterances since resigning
have been intended to crystalize pub
lie sentiment in support Of his efforts
to maintain peace-to use famil-
lar phrase, peace with honor
But remember that when I use the
phrase peace with honor" I do not
use it in the same sense that those
do who regard every opponent Of war