The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-05-27
GERMAN-AMERICAN VIEW.
Herman Ridder Discusses Relations
Between Germans and Americans.

Between Germans and Americans.
The Staatz-Zeitung in an article
signed by Herman Ridder, says:
Anyone who reads can see that a
large section of the press Of this
country has been doing its best dur
ing the last six days to dictate to the
president the course which he shall
follow in handling the extremely deli
cate situation which has arisen in
our foreign relations. ,
These papers, whose names are on
everyone's lips, have sought to op-
pose the cacophony of the mob to the
calm reflection of the chief executive
of the land. They have filled their
columns with incendiary communica-
tions which neither represent public
opinion nor have the redeeming fea-
lures of logic or truth. They have
reproduced at a critical, and as they
perhaps think a psychological, mo-
ment, extensive extracts from the
British reports on German atroci-
ties in Belgium, seeking by the cir
culation of this rehash Of stories long
since twice told and long ago dis
proved to further infame the pas
sions of the people.
They have, moreover, attempted
to further their designs of provoking
war by publishing extracts from Ger
man papers commenting on the sink
ing of the Lusitania, intended to
maintain popular passions in the
country at white heat. While the
wireless installation at Sayville is not
in operation these extracts come to
us through London and are well chos-
en- to serve the purpose Of the Brit
ish government. They are but iso-
lated paragraphs torn from their con-
text in certain of those pestilential
organs of which Germany has her
share as well as we, and in no way
represent the feeling Of the German
people over the loss Of the Americans
who went down with the i'll fated ves-
sci.
1.-The people of this country are
overwhelmingly for peace, yet large
section of the press which claims to
l. al
This element was successful in
achieving its designs in 1898, but IN
1915, it has to deal with president
who bows to nothing but the will Of
the people.
"The American press seems to be
incapable of understanding that this
is no time for war talk. The people
of the country have been sufficiently
aroused by events. There is no occa-
sion to further infame their passions
by specious argument or baseless in
situations. The president, with great
wisdom and strength of mind, has
striven to maintain the peace of the
country while upholding its honor,
and if the battle goes against him and
we are plunged into war, the full
meaning of which no one can forsee
but the horror of which is patent to
all, it will be due to the clamor OF a
few irresponsible papers.
Nor is this time to burden mill
lions of American people with unjust
and unnecessary anguish of mind,
The German-Americans must suffer
in any conflict between the United
States and Germany, pains Of which
their fellow citizens can never know
anything. It is rather time for
showing them the greatest degree Of
consideration. They have fought to
uphold the flag in the past and they
will do it against any enemy what
soever.. They deserve the fruits of
past loyalty, until they have t.. felt
ed the right to claim them. There
has never been but one flag under
which the German-American has
fought. There never can be but one
flag under which he will ever fight.
And that flag is the Stars and
Stripes"