Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-26
A CLEAN Of Hone.

The brightest spot in our relations
with Germany is seen in Ambassador
Won Bernstorfrs communication OF
Tuesday. Germany asks for time to
explain the Arabic outrage.
Germany cares for our friendship!
In that fact we find hope. Every
American is ready to listen and to
grant her the benefit of every doubt.
Every American desires the most
friendly relations with Germany. Mil
lions Of Americans have German blood
in their veins. Other millions would
regard hostilities with Germany as
the breaking Of a sacred tie. The
great mass of American citizens hate
war and love peace.
Our relations with Germany have
come to the breaking point. we be-
lieve. through no act of our own. We
have committed no acts against our
German friends Of which the I'm
perial Government has found cause to
protest. We have not spied upon our
neighbor in the conduct Of her mill
tary measures. We have robbed ma
German subjects Of their rights. We
have neither instigated nor supported
any propaganda with the purpose Of
insidiously defeating her government
aims. We have held strictly to the
letter of our agreements with our sis
ter nation. We have held and do UP
hold, every principle Of international
law.
On the other hand, we have had fire.
quent and shocking cause to protest
to Germany Of her violation of our
rights and friendship. Her replies
have been vague. evasive and even
insulting in their assumption Of all
Importance and disdain Of our rights
to question her course. Our protests
have been answered by further evil
dences of arrogance and scorn.
All these things. we are ready to
concede are due to the false standards
and distorted visions of war. We
have been patient until they seem to
have mistaken our patience for
cowardice. We are still awaiting a
return to normal considerations Of. the
moral rights of humanity, and we
grasp at the straw that the sinking Of
the Arabic was not the answer to our
representations in the Lusitania case.
In this crisis American citizens OF
German extraction have duty to
perform-let them be strictly neutral,
as the President has urged all Ameri-
cans to be. Let them cease the ir-
ritating partisanship that defends
every German act however damnable
it may be, and give their adopted gov
eminent the benefit Of their support
in this crisis. The horrors of a Ger
American conflict would be to
them a two-fold disaster. Then let
them not precipitate it by hourly in
suits to the great nation which guar
antees them protection and freedom.
Our foreign born citizens should be
the best and most loyal Of American
people; for they have seen the adj
vantages and disadvantages Of both
governments and have chosen between
them. Reasonable utterances from
them are almost unforgiveable.
Let US hope that Germany is not
Indifferent to our friendship. Let us
be ready to meet her half way and to
forgive much.
But let us no longer crawl like a
beseeching puppy to the feet of the
war mad regime that scorns our
kindliest approaches. It is time for
Germany to understand the temper
she is arousing In this nation. 1t
cannot long be ignored. If Germany
is awakening to the possibilities, let
us rejoice.
The rights of peaceable. God-fear-
ing people are just as sacred as Of
those who are stepped in blood.