The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-18
REPLY TO "AMMI WRIGHT"
The Citizen Of German Descent Vow
Has His Say.


prominence you accord It by having It
IN the first column Il 10 to be pre-
sumed that you are In accord with his
views and and that you
make his letter yours.
Who Is this "Ammi Wright" any
way? And by what authority does he
presume to speak, Who is he that he
dares thus to openly insult more than
20 per cent. Of our population. . body
Of men and women who hold high rank
in intelligence and low OF law and
order. and whose patriotism for this
country has never been brought into
question until this presumptuous writer
appears.
Why did the Germans leave Ger
many? Why does anybody emigrate?
What Is the cause OF the constant MI
grafton between the states7 The rea-
son. in nine cases out OF ten. Is purely
economic. People see, or think they
see. better chances for improving their
financial condition. and thai IS why
they emigrats. Time was when II was
difficult to make a living In n coun-
try In Europe. America was the land
OF opportunity where II was quite pos
slble for the poorest to get a foothold
and mount the ladder to fame and for
tune. IL was then tina the Germans
and the Irish and the other natbonalI-
ties OF Europe emlgrated here In large
numbers.
But emigration from Germany for
twenty or thirty years past has de-
clined until now there Is practically
I none. Why Is IT, Because, under a
wise and benefcent Government. the
people OF Germany have to-day that
opportunity they did not have sixty or
seventy years ago. In no other coun-
try in the world has there been the ad-
vance in prosperity that there has been
in Germany. The Germans need no
Tor ger leave their native land 70 pros
per. The PERCENTAGES OF ill.teracy and
poverty In Germany are among the very
lowest.
Your writer says they let Germany
because they were tired OF being ell
bowed OF the sidewalks by superior
| young men In uniform and u~ptuTned
m~ustaches." II Is about time this
canard was nailed. have been in
Germany on more than one occasion
and never saw Il done. My son, who
has lived there for four years, says he
never saw II done. His music In
structor. a spaniard BY birth. a resi-
lent OF America for several years, a
cosmopolitan and man OF the world,
has told ne tina ne never saw any
thing Of the kind during a continuous
residence Of over eleven years in Ger
many. I doubt that q eye- happened.
Did "Amml Wright ever see IT, Did
you ever see IT. Does he. or do you.
know any one who ever saw &? l
doubt IL
When the em!grants from Germany
swore allegiance to this country ard It's
institutions IL was do-e wholeheart-
eddy and with no mental reservation
whatsoever. Statistics will show that a
larger percentage OF em!gTants from
Germany have become naturallzed than
have those from any other country
with the exception OF Ireland. The
record OF VIVA they nave done In build
ing Up our middle West Il In defend
ing this country from forel-n foes and
domestic violence SPEAKS for Itself. II
needs no defence from me. Ny grand
parents came from Germany aad did
their share IN developing our Western
country. Their children, my father
among them. fought during the civil
war. Tire present generation has al
ways done It's share OF civic duties.
and our children can be relied upon to
DO theirs. ours Is an Amer!can!sm
as stanch and true as that OF any citi-
zen. native or nsturallZed.
But because we are OF German an
cestry are We TO Be denied an express
sion OF opinion regarding the stand
taken by our Government In matters
pertaining 70 the var now raging in
Europe Since when has the right Of
free speech and honest protest been
denied u.s. Is everything that Ger
many does wrong and everything that
the Allies do right? How about those
not OF German birth or ancestry who
have Joined IN the protests regarding
the attitude OF u Government? Are
they too to be classed with those who
are preparing to sm!te the hani that
succored them and who have nothing
but rid.cu!e for Uncle Sam:
\ fair minded person must admit
that il Is rather difficult TO stand su-
pinely by and say nothing when after
everything that Germany does our
Government makes protest, but allow Z
months 10 go by before saying a word
20 England about her interference
with our commerce. A hundred years
ago her high handed procedure led %
war; to-day England Is permitted %
work her will. Our protests 10 both
countries are ignored pE the one quite
as well as by the other.
Who can doubt but that. II condl-
lions were reversed, II IL were Ger
many that had a navy % large vessels
n England had 20 derend on sub
marines this latter country would have
insisted upon her right N proceed as
Germany has proceeded. England with
her large navy with ror-s all over he
world 20 which she can moSt ~couveni-
entity take her prizes, can follow this
older order 7; is 10 her advantage.
But England has not hesi,ated In the
matter OF conformation OF her prizes
10 depart from the ruling which her
courts established In previous wars She
says conditions have cha nged. 30. TOO.
have they changed for Germany. who
should not be condemned FOR not fol-
lowing the laws OF war heretofore In
practice.
Whenever any new invention In war
fare was introduced there was always
an outcry against its use. When the
crosshow superseded the long bow. and
was In turn superseded by firearms. the
users OF the newer inventions were
treated as beyond the rules 81 war
threatened with accommodation and
death by torture. Now that the sub
marine has appeared as an available
weapon OF defence It's users are be-
yond the pale. outlaws in the interna-
tional word. barblrlans. I venture q
predict that when this war shall have
come 10 a close there will arise new
rules OF warfare, subscribed 20 by all
the larger Powers, which Will approve
; Methods now NOrlArned