TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-03-15
oNE-sIDED NEUTRAL
ITY.
tInternational Trades League,

opinion IN this "neutraPv country regBrd.
ing the war in Europe shows no abate,
ment, in the general sense. The edi-
torial pages Of many influential Ameri.
can newspapers continue TO fairly bristie
with attacks upon Germany, while wink.
ing the other eye at observance Of the
impartiality counseled by President VIII
son.
The German Americans who have ex
hibite2i the temerity to form the Amer.
Jan Independence Union with the view
OF exercising their rights as citizens In
the face Of general opprobrium, have
been bitterly assailed and threatened
with reprisals. IT appears to be con
sidered miedemeanor in America TO be
OF German lineage.
German ships, peacefully lolling against
their whsrves in New York harbor, are
officially overhauled under suspicion.
while English and French vessels, loaded
20 the gunwales with the machinery and
munitions Of war, sail forth unhindsrei
and unnotieed save by the unemotional
headlines. "Takes Hydroaeroplanes =
Lusitania Has Three, Believed to Be for
the British Navy; and such mattsr-of-
fact paragraphs as:
"1he Lusitania did not take any big
guns, as il was reported that she would
do. The Bethlehem Steel Company was
not ready, it was said, to make delivery
upon its contract
The French steamship La Tourainc
takes fire at sea, or We might never have
known that her hold was stuffed with
war materials consigned 70 the Allies,
so that these materials, by their
contignity to the flames, were a menace
to number of Americans on board.
The monstrous crime Of Germany's
invasion OF Belgium is reiterated, ami
upon. and denounced day by
day; and when the New York Times
reproduces in fac simile q British
avator's official book OF information
showing that the British themselves had
the country carefully mapped for their
own use long before hostilities began,
not the slightest attention is paid to
the revelation.
1t does not occur 10 anyone 10 In
Tire why the English 50 minutely
mapped Belgium, OF 20 suggest that
the possible purpose was TO cross that
unhappy country to German invasion.
Nor does the insistent German asser-
ton backed by documents; that there
long had existed q secret understanding
between Belgium and certain OF the
Allies awaken anything but the most
toisterous derision.
We accept with ingenious conviction
The startling stories from France relat.
Bg at great length the barbarities Of
Lhe German hordes who take no prison
RS, but ruthlessly slay the wounded ami
hose who surrender to superior force.
And when the declaration is made
through another dispatch to the same
'ewspsper that Germany has more than
! million prisoners Of war, we do not
ven pause to inquire where she got
hem. since she shows no quarter and
axes no prisoners.
How are We 10 account for this stu
Ition2 The American nation has prided |
iself heretofore upon its love OF fair
day. 1t joyfully accepted its Chief Tx.
eutive's sdmonition TO preserve strict |
'eutrality, and it promptly forgot all
ts grand theories Of fair play, con-
trliing neutrality 20 mean the frenzied |
Of one OF the powers
and the exaltation Of those |
rrayed upon the other side.
II is no part OF the intention Of this |
'ulletin to give expression to pro-Ger-
nan sentiment. We merely desire 10
all the attention Of the American
eople, as represented in many of their
ewspapers, to the manifest unfairness
{ their attitude. the gross injury they
re uniustly heaping upon a friendly
ace.
1t cannot be that the great majority
( our citizens, gathering their impres-
ion from the doetored news dispatches
eaching America by way Of England,
ave east their lot with the forces which
eem by their overwhelming numbers 20
ave by far the better chance OF Vic
ory--it cannot be that We assail Ger
lany solely because she seems to be
be under dog.
II this were the truth, then 1t would
2 necessary that we reconstruct our
mericanism upon new and ignoble
mes.
Yet the fact remains that as a mass
e receive as gospel every aspersion
lst upon the Germans, and scornfully
ismiss 50 much as the faintest sispi. ,
on that the war might possibly have ,
zen due in any measure 10 any other ,
,fluence than the pure malevolenee Of ,
ie German emperor.
The organization issuing the series Of !
illetins Of which this is continuation
interested solely in endeavoring 70 ,
fluence in America fair consideration !
II every one Of the nations embrolled ,
this desperats and terrible business.