South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-30
NEWSPAPER "CoPPERHEADs'
est. Louis Post Dispatch)


The German-American alliance of
New York has adopted a resolution
condemning Pres't Wilson's latest note
TO Germany and urging peace-lOving
people, especially americans of Ger
man origin" 10 protest against any
attempt TO draw this country into the
European war.
The resolution should first be di-
rected to the American newspapers
printed in the German language. Their
attitude and utterances are the great
est menace to the preservation of
peace.
Two Of these newspapers deliberate
ly reprint the absurd falsehood that
there is a secret alliance between the
United States and Great Britain
The effect of this lie is TO discredit
the government of the United States.
1t is an attack upon the character and
purpose of the president and his asso-
ciates in office. 1t is a charge that
they have betrayed their trust and
violated the constitution and the laws;
that they have usurped powers they
do not possess and, intrusted with the
honor and interests Of our govern
ment have secretly, without author
ity, cOnspired TO support and promote
the interest of a foreign government.
If this charge is true the president
should be impeached. Hanging would
be too good for him and his official
associates participating in or having
knowledge of such a conspiracy.
The treacherous intent of the
charge is obvious. 1t is designed to
anger Americans Of German origin by
falsely representing the American ad-
ministration as hypOcritical and dis
honest, as secret enemies of Germany
directing the governments policy TO
promote the interest Of Great Britain.
1t angers the German people in Ger
many by falsely representing the
American government as having hos
tile intentions towards Germany and
as working underground to serve the
interests in the war of Germany's
enemies.
Little less damaging and misleading.
though less bold. are the comments
of newspaper like the Westliche Post
which charge the American govern
ment with Partially and misrepre-
sent the sentiment of the American
people. They criminally mislead their
readers and grossly misinterpret the
American opinion and American pur-
pose TO the German people.
There is no course so menacing to
peace as this policy of falsehOod and
misrepresentation which prevents that
clear understanding and mutual con-
hdence between two people and two
governments which is the foundation
of amity and peace.
These foreign-partisan newspapers
do not want peace. they merely want
peace with Germany at any price and
war with Germanys enemies at any
cost The measure of their folly is
shown by the effect OF their blind and
constituencies partsanship which TO
ments hostility between German
Americans and Americans. and be
tween Germany and the United States
Speech is free in America. There
is-ao right nor wish to put restraint
upon the freedom of utterances en-
Joyed by the foreign Language press.
But freedom courts responsibility Of
newspapers processing American 10y
atty, but discrediting the character
and purpose OF the government and
misrepresenting to a foreign nation
the character of the government and
sentiment of the people in a crisis
affecting the honor and vital interests
OF Americans.
Responsibility for this course of
these cOpperhead newspapers rests
with the Americans of German origin
who read them Their Judgment is
the rod to correct their errors.
No American believes that PreSi-
dent wilson has done anything but
strive honestly To maintain American
neutrality and American friendship
with an oellgerents. no American be-
lieVes that Pres't Wilson wants any
thihS nut peace and will keep peace
II peace may be kept and without sac
rlnclng American honor. sOVereignty
rights and safety
All Americans ardently desire peace
but 'hey passonlately love freedom and