Washington Journal., 1915-10-22
Are at Home Here !
Especial Correspondence for this paper
by a prominent Washingtonian).

The British propagandists, in their en-
beavers to destroy the influence of
Americans of German blood, are GER
tainlv resourceful. Ii their knowledge
of conditions in the United States we're
equal to their ingenuity, nobody could
deny that they would be most formid-
able antagonists. Fortunately, here is
where they are lacking, SO much SO that
they occasionally make the most absurd
plumbers. Could not Sir Cecil Spring
Rice find somebody for the post Of chief
of the press bureau, who knows some
thing of America, and more particu-
larly of Gefman-Americans?
We have lot yet quite got over our
merriment in connection with the Brit
ish Ambassadors solemn complaint that
the German American singing societies
Of Cincinnati were planning a raid into
Canada, when our risibilities are once
more excited. This time, the great news
comes from Buffalo. In that interesting
town they have discovered that moi less
than four millions of German-Americans
will leave this country, just as 0 Q as
the war is over, because they no longer
feel at home here since the United States
have decided to cast in their lot with
dear old England hereafter.
If the British press bureau or the edi-
tors Of the British papers in New York,
such as the Times, the Herald or the
Sun, do not see how silly that sort Of
talk is, we cannot be surprised. It is
cause for wonder, however, that even
some American newspapers have re-
printed the story, not in their funny coll
umns, but as serious news.
Is it really necessary to inform u
friends ii editorial Offices that German
Amesicans, precisely Ike AngioAmcri-
cans. are at home in this country. and
have no other place they call home?
We know that the colonists in Canada,
Australia and so forth, are taught to
speak of England as home even if
neither they nor their grandparents have
ever seen that arrogant little island.
Americans have but one home-this
great country in which we live and do
our work and have planted our affec-
tons. That is especially true Of Ger
man-Americans, whether their ancestors
crossed the Atlantic on the Concord,
away back in 1853, or whether they
came here comfortably in a North Ger
man Lloyd steamer.
We all know, Of course, that every
immigrant has TO pass through a period
Of transition, during which he adapts
himself to his new surroundings. gets
acquainted with things American, and
finally energies from the ~'greenhorn'
stage a full-hedged citizen Of the
United States. 1t is entirely possible that
among those who are just 10Y in this
process Of transformation there may be
some who, Disguised at seeing not a few
Americans show so little patriotic pride
as to make themselves the deluded slaves
Of our inveterate enemy, Great Britain,
have decided that they do not care to
become citizens of a country that pro-
duces such queer patriots. However,
ought not American newspapers to be
aware of the fact that there has been
hardly an appreciable immigration from
Germany for twenty-five years, and that
consequently there can be but few per-
sons in that transition stage we have
described? Most Americans of German
birth, now living. have been Americans
for a great many years, many OF them
a great deal longer, no doubt, than most
of the young newspaper reporters have
lived at all. who are now ordered by
their employers to invent pro-British
fakes. These Americans have worked,
as is the wont OF men Of German blood,
faithfully and we'll, and as a consequence
they have acquired, nearly all of them,
some modest property, while no a few
have gained a comfortable fortune, and
some have become rich More than that
they have founded families in this
country. their children have been born
and raised herein many cases their
loved ones are buried in American soil.
America is dear to them because they
have devoted their lives to its service.
Will such men run away in order Il
please British propagandists and their
American dupes?
And then there is another thing we
wish to whisper into the ears OF our