South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-15
NATIONAL VERSUS INDIVIDUAL
NEUTRALITY.

NEUTRALITY.
How much OF this agitation going
the rounds in the United States en-
couraging Germans TO resent what the
agitators are wont 10 criticise as the
failure OF our neutrality, is partisan
political, and how much fair-minded-
Is patriotic, we Will perhaps never
know. We do know however that
wherever republican leaders, find
chance 10 pat these Germans on the
back and encourage them TO believe
that the kaiser is not getting a square
deal, they are not neglecting to make
use of 1t. Certain speakers that have
recently been prominent at German
neutrality meetings held in this cOun-
try, IN Chicago. Indianapolis, and
elsewhere, are even said TO be draw
ing their expense money. and bits of
salary from the republican national
committees treasury. The belief is
that the purpose is 10 capitalize Ger
man sensitiveness with reference 10
the average attitude Of Americans
toward the war in Europe. and get il
charged up. if possible. against the
Wilson administration at Washing
ton. thus TO catch the German vote in
1916.
We suggest that our German friends
and especially those of democratic
faith. might do less patriotic things
as German-Americans. than TO take
this possibility. indeed, probability.
into serious account. Don't let your
love for the Fatherland, which is nat
ural and right. get away with your
better judgment; In other words, don't
allow your native patriotism TO be-
come "doped" with political gas.
Germany has placed a concrete case
before the state department at Wash
ington, To test our neutrality. and
there is no Disgusting the fact that the
feeling in Germany is very bitter to-
ward the American people, but the at
titude of this government has been
strictly neutral TO the last degree, and
Germany's statesmen know 1t. and
nave recently admitted it. Note that
there is a distinct difference between
the neutrality Of the nation. as ma
ton. and a nations people in the use
of their individual freedom. We can
not deny that as individual citizens
the mass of our Haople are in SYM
pathy with the allied nations, but you
cannot charge that against Pres't Will
son or the federal government. with
any degree Of regard for the facts.
The United States of America pos
sesses a magnificent German-Ameri-
can citizenship. Of which it is Justly
proud. Were this citizenship menaced
by a foreign foe. be it England. France
cr any other nation, every man would
rally to its defense, every resource
of this country would be brought to
bear to protect IT,: for they are our
own people. When il comes, how
ever. to expression Of sympathy. in
thought and speech it is as idle to at
tempt 10 combat it as it is 10 control
the winds that blow
1t should be the policy OF the Unit
ed States government, as govern
ment, TO maintain the strictest simon
pure. impartial neutrality; the neu-
trality that knows no friendships ad-
mits no dislikes, turns deaf ear TO
Establishments. ignores threats; bur as
10 the personal prerogative of freedom
of thought and liberty OF speech grant
ed to its people by God and the con-
stitution-why. as Kipling says,
That's another story"
We doubt If there is German in
n no of
these blessed privileges of American
freedom. would want them set at
naught, at any price They, like the
rest Of us. must give and take. Ger
many since the opening Of cOmmuni-
cation with that country has mad a
pretty square deal through American !
sources Of information. The Ameri- |
can press has gladly carried the GER
man side insofar as il has been avail ,
able. IL can hardly be made a par
tisan political issue. nor should it be |
allowed 20 be used 10 iuculcate parti- |
san political prejudice. that certain |
American citizens have failed 60 sub |
scribe 10 the German viewpoint. There !
are a lot OF our people. natives of Eng |
land or natives OF France, OF If not |
natives themselves the sons of ma !
tives. In order that this may be a
home for all OF these they must have
this freedom Of thought. and OF oc-
casional explosion. as we'll as must the
German-Americans. else this is no
longer the land OF the free''-but the
home OF the crank exclusively.
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