South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-12
TO TESTING TIME FOR
AMERICANS FIRST"


and American shipping safe. passage
on American ships. free from subma-
rine attack. may be a triae short OF
sufficient. but will If the promise be
kept. go a long ways in winning for
her a larger good will in this coun-
try. Notwithstanding this. however,
IL is well that those German-Ameri-
cans Who since the sinking OF
the Guldight and up TO the torpedo
ing OF the Lusitania, have insisted.
despite their pronounced Teutonic
sympathies that If it ever came 10 a
test. a real issue, between their adopt
ed country and the fatherland, they
would be first OF all. Americans.
should be made 10 realize now near
they have come 10 facing that test.
PTes't Wilson in his address at
Philadelphia, Monday night. outlined
the duties not only Of German Ameri-
cans. but OF all hyphenated Ameri-
cans. at the present time in no un-
certain terms. 1t was not an address
TO German Americans, nor about Ger
Americans. nor was IT a discus
sion Of the Lusitania affair, but it was
plainly announced that the times are
grave, at least in part, because of
pro- German and pro-British preju-
dices IN the land, upon which certain
partisan politicians Of small patriotic
mould were STOPPING TO play for pOliti
cal effect. IN consequence, America
needed as 1t has not needed in years.
and the president was right TO
demand, the unqualified support OF
all citizens. regardless of their place
Of birth or love for home lands across
the seas. He said:
A man who goes among you to
trade upon your nationality is no
worthy son 10 live under the stars
and stripes. Beware Of the man
who seeks to make personal cap
ital out Of the passions of his fell
low men. America does not con-
sist OF groups and no man who
comes TO the United States must
think of himself as a member Of
a group or class.
You bring all your countries
with you, but you come with a
purpose Of leaving all countries
behind you. 1 would not sug-
gest that any man should cease
10 love the country of his birth,
but you cannot dedicate yourself
to America unless you become a
thorough American.
America was born to help for
ward the great enterprises Of the
human spirit and to promote lib
erty and justice. The American
citizen owes allegiance to no one,
unless IL be God. The man who
seeks to divide America into
Jealous camps has no place in
It: that word united was not -
placed in the name of the nation
for nothing.
That is true Americanism. and it |
comes from the highest political au-
lhority In the land; higher, quite |
infinitely. than Mr.. Herman Riders |
Staats-Zeitung. or any of the pro-
British newspapers that some Of our
otherwise hyphenated Americans are /
publishing. 1t is no lonSsr question |
81 favoritism for the Allies. or favor |
ltism for Germany. but favoritism |
Tor the United States,-"may she al |
ways be right" yes: IF right TO be |
kept right, and if wrong to be set
right" as Mr.. Ridder quotes it from
hat estimable true American of
German birth, the late Carl Schurz, |
who was always American first from |
the moment he pledged US his alegi- !
ance.-but the United States may
prove quite indisposed to let the pro- /
German or pro-British editors do all |
the settling OF the question as to what |
Is right.
We speak of Mr.. Ridder in particu- |
, lar because he is a leader of a type of |
imported American TO be deplored !
His idea OF what is right is always
pro- German but with respect 10 the /
sinking OF the Lusitania he has be-
come well-nigh anu-American. Not
all COMMUNICATIONS are like him /
Many of them are among the very
best and most loyal Americans and, /
we're war 10 result We believe quite as
many sons OF Germany could be
counted upon TO enter the ranks as of
any other nationality. They have fur
nished mach of the best blood OF the
land and in the wars in which we
have engaged in the past they have
spilled their full share OF that blood
This is no criticism OF Germans in
general ANY son or descendant of
the land OF Wilhelm. II down in his
heart OF hearts he is an American
hrst, need not for an instant regard
himself as being chastised. IL is a
good time now. however. for al who
would claim the protection OF the
stars and the stripes. TO swear allie
glance to those stars and stripes anew.
We have said il is no longer a
question OF favoritism for the Allies.
or favoritism for the Germans. but
favoritism for the United States That
is the exact situation. The United
States has maintained strict neu-
lraHty since the outbreak OF the war
and that neutrality is entitled 70 the
respect OF all nations. the belligerents
particular. international law is
explicit in its defense OF our rights as
aeutrals. and. not 20 insist upon those
rights from Germany would be i'm