South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-21
OUR FIRST PRIZE As OUTGROWTH
OF GERMAN CONTROVERSY.

ONk llSSl BitILE II OlIGRON I'll
OF GERMAN CONTROVERSY
Our little tilt with Germany seems
TO have proven quite worth while. re-
gardless OF future developments. if
for no other reason than because of
the change in political attitudes to-
ward American life and ideals, seen
in the gradual disappearance of the
"hyphen" during the past two weeks.
1t represents one of the most remark
able quick changes that has taken
place in the history OF the country
We are privileged to observe that at
rOck-bOttom we are much more OF a
typical American nation. with an
America first disposition. that he had
for years supposed. From the mo-
ment that Pres't Wilson spoke the
word at Philadelphia week ago
Monday night the "hyphen" has been
vanishing with very acceptable rapid
ity.
Always our foreign-born citizens
the Germans and Irish particularly
had proudly coupled the parent land
with the land of their adoption. The
European war. with it's tanning of race
prejudice, had strengthened this ten
dency until the "hyphen" was almost
a national issue 1t came TO represent
a lamentable cleavage in the senu
ment OF a nation which. despite its
diverse elements. has nearly always
been unanimous in it's foreign policy.
The Germans especially seemed di-
vided from the other Americans. and
there was some tendency Of the same
sort among the Irish.
But suddenly all that has passed
away The attack on the Lusitania.
and the resulting action of our gov
eminent, has acted as a sort of sol
vent in the melting pot OF American
citizenship Every alien element is
dissolved out. and there remain pure
Americans. Foreign statesmen and
publicists who predicted division. and
even civil war. in this country if ever
the question OF German and Irish 10y
atty came 10 an issue, have been dis
inusionec with amazing suddenness.
Our editors Of German newspapers
have almost without exception sub
dued their tone, changed their view
point and supported the president.
They have given assurance that the
readers they represent are Americans,
even to the bitter test. If that test
should come, of bearing arms for their
adopted country against the Father
land The same assurance has been
given by the very citizens whom
alarmists have professed to fear most
the members Of German-American
shooting societies" These organiza-
tions. perhaps the nearest prepared
for war OF any body of citizens out
side our regular army, have made it
very plain that if they ever do any
shooting in a public cause, it will
be under the Stars and Stripes.
The altered viewpoint of such Irish
Americans as had been led by their
old anti-EngHsh grudge to favor the
German cause is clearly indicated by
a New York man who points out that
il was an Irish jury that charged the
German emperor and government with
'willful murder" in the Lusitania case,
and who adds:
The Irish question is purely
domestic one for the Irish and
English people 10 decide. just as
the tariff issue is here. We bring
no treason with us across the
seas despite the foolish vaporing
OF a few unsavory ones among us
to the contrary.
It's the old story, the moral Of
which has been drawn a thousand
times: The members OF n family may
quarrel among themselves (as some
groups" OF us are doing lately, but
let any outside friend or relative jump
in TO take a hand. and instantly the
whole family turns on the intruder,
and in the task of making him mind
his own business RECEIVERS its domestic