Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-05-17
Mr.. RIDDER'S PATRIOTIC STATE
MENT.
From the Houston Post.)

From the Houston Post.)
Much that has been written in the
New York Stats Zeitung by Mr.. Her
man Riddcr during the past nine months
of war has caused irritation in the Uni
ted States. The Stats Zcitung i the
most important newspaper printed III
the German language published in the
limited States and Mr.. I;idder. its edi
Tor. is one 81 the ablcSt editors of Ger
man descent ia the country. lie II u
natural born citizen of the United
States and il. therefore. in American
citizen and not a German american clt-
Iizrn. As "A man If German descent.
however. Mr.. Eiddcr has exhibited the
strongest sympathy with the land of his
IforcfathcrS as against the allies. which
is natural enough. and that has been
the position of all that large number of
American citizens called Gcrman-Amcri-
cans.
The Posi- mentions these facts a. "A
prelude to some comment upon a signed
statement by Mr.. Ridder which has ap-
pcarcd in his newspaper since the loss
of the LuSitania. a part of which IL aS
follows:
Nor j. this the time 10 burden
millions uf the American people
with umiuat and unnecessary ang
ui>h of mind. The German meri
cans must suffer ia any c%onilict he
tween the United States and Ger
many. pains { which their fellow
citizens can never know ANYTHING.
10 T. rather q time for showing them
the greatest degree Of consideration.
They have fought g. uphold the ilag
ia the past aud they will 10 80
again against any rnrmN whatSurv-
-. They deserve the fruits of past
LOYALTY until they have forfeited
right To- claim them. There has
never been but one ilag under which
the American has fouglT.
THERE NEVER CAN RE But
ONE FLAG UNDER WHICH HE
WILL EVER FIGHT. AND THAT
FLAG IL THE STARS AND
STRIPES.
The Post thinks this is Splendidly
said and il ought to he considered Sc
riouSly. especially Nv that element of na-
tive citizens who have been inclined a.
speak critically of our millions If fellow
citizens of German birth or descent.
II i not necessary here to set forth
what a tremendous part these citizens
have played in the development of our
country. From its earliest history un.
Ill this time they have been generous.
%tirclcSS contributors To- everything that
has made the country great. In every
Held ~ cndcavor they have been strong.
Intelligent. Industrious ana %virtuous.
II what they have done could be sub
tracted from the sum 90 our achieve
mcntS as u nation il would mean "a
moving back Of the hand of progress
Tor decades and generations.
Naturally. the very suggestion of con
ilict between their country and the
and Of their forcfathcrS would bring IL
their hearts. ~ Mr.. Riddcr saws. Il bur
den Of anguish. and this should not b.
aggravated bv expressions Of disgust Ia
their LOYALTY or doubt Of their fidelity to
any obligation Of citizenship which
events. however Sorrowful and tragicaI
might impose upon them.
surely we can Svmpathizc with them
~ The painful moments If uncertainty
which now distress ~ al.
Rather than subject them ia crueI
suspicion. let uS indulge with faith the
hope that nothing shall arise To- bring
Ire afhiction Of armed strife upon our
country and let n believe a. surely we
mn>t from the glorious record of the
Grrmanic people in North America.
mat no peril could a>Sail the RcpnIai~
rom anv source that would not find
mem strong. loval and true 10 every oh
l%isation that rests upon the citizenrv of
America.