The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-06-10
A REBUkE AND A WARNING.

The time has come to rebuke the
editors OF certain German-American
papers and to issue some friendly
suggestions to the large German
population in this country.
German editors have not been
content with taking sides with Ger
many against the allies; that was
natural and proper. They have
taken sides with Germany against
the United States; that is treason.
They have viewed every public Ques-
ton in America through German
spectacles; they have tried to shape
American public policy solely for
the kaisers advantage; they have
heaped indignities on the president
of the United States which in any
other country would have landed
them in Jail.
One of these editors says of the
foreign policy Of the present admin
istration:
1T is un-American! 1t is unfair!
= 1t must cease, or Presi-
dent Wilson must resign''
Take time to grasp and assimilate
the stupid impudence of that re-
mark. An imported editor, posing
as a leader OF German sentiment"
demands the resignation OF the
president of the United States!
Then consider the following, lot
so impairment as the first quotation,
perhaps, but more treasonable.I
I'VE are not afraid of s.ay grave
complications between this republic
and Germany, because this govern
ment has pursued, since the war
started, policy Of cowardice.-
nois Staa ts-Zeirung, May 8, 1915.
In other words, the United States
is a coward among nations because
IT. declines to pull the kaiser's chest
nuts out Of the fire, and, being a
coward. may be insulted with i'm
punity.
/, The lengths to which other writ
ers have gone in this German
American campaign are quite as
astounding.
a They have demanded that the
United States prohibit the expoTta-
ton of arms, though the right to
sell arms to belligerents is univer-
sally conceded, and has been exercis-
ed a score of times by Germany her
self. Only four months before the
great war broke out Germany was
sending arms and ammunition to
Mexico with the full expectation that
they would be used to kill American
soldiers and sailors.
They have shouted for the United
States to break the blockade which
the allies have proclaimed and en-
forced against Germany.
They have tried to embroil this
country in war with Japan, in
hope Of forcing US into the EuroD-
can war on the German side.
They characterized President Will
sons note to which every
loyal citizen approves with his whole
heart and soul-as "impudent' and
s'unfair," and urged the kaiser to
take no notice of the cOmmunlca-
ton. ~
They are describing the evasive
and insulting response of Germany
as document which ought to be &C
copied by this government as ending
all controversy.
After exhibiting such political i'm
becility as that, it is net surprising
that the "German-A nj rican' edi-
tors have shown a moral imbecllity
still more shocking. They have fed
their readers on distorted news and
falsehoods. They have upheld eV-
cry dcvilment worked by the kais-
er's troops as evidence OF superior
s'kultur,'' and have resented every
criticism of such atrocities as wick
en- and unjust attacks On Germany.
They have glorified the crowning
horror, the sinking OF the Lusltanla'
The amount OF trouble these
Teauto-maniacs are laying up Tor
themselves is their own affairs. IL
war breaks out between Germany
and the United States, they can
count themselves lucky if they suffer
no worse fate than the suppression
Of their publications and the intern
ment Of themselves.
Unfortunately, they are laying up
trouble for others, and here the
Journal wishes to give a friendly
warning.
In gpite Of the reasonable utter
ances Of "German-American" edi-
TORS. the Journal believes that the
great majority of Germans natural
lied IN this country are loyal to the
Tinted States and will fulfill their
ohligations as American citizens.
But their loyalty will be questioned
if thew allow themselves to be mis-
represented by the fanatics who
seem to have secured control OF the
German American" press. Their
enod repute. their safety may de-.
pend on repudiating these self-ap-
nointed Headers while yet there is.
time.
man birth should take pans to let u
be known that his allegiance, nrst,
last and all the time, Niii be PAID
to the United States-ald 10 the
United States alone.
Every German organization in this
country should take this ppprtunity