Washington Journal., 1916-03-17
Becoming Nervous!
Especial correspondence for this paper
by a prominent Washingtonian).

Alfred Moves, an Englishman whom
some people imagine to be a poet, lives
in this country at present. He is in no
risk Of Zeppelin bombs. He is also a
very courageous man. Else why should
he be vociferous in calling upon the
American people to take their place with
Zulus. Scnegambians, G~huerkas. Cana
dams, New Z~ealanders. Fiji Islanders,
and the rest Of them TO uphold the tot
tering British Empire in its fight against
the Central Powers? Does Mr.. Noyes
not know when he is we'll off? AS long
as the United States. or the British part
Of it, confines itself to sending ships and
ammunition, Alfred will not be pestered
with awkward questions why he is not
in the trenches, fighting for his native
country.
MIR. Moves patriotic zeal is admirable,
although safe. No doubt he deserves
all the adulation he receives at Prince
ton, New York, Boston, and other places
dear to the British heart. Those Of us,
however, who are mere American citi-
zens and have not mastered the Har-
ward accent, so delightfully."- like that Of
the cockney, sometimes feel awkward
q%ucstionings arising III our u~nenlight-
cned minds. For instance: Suppose
some German, or Turk, should come To-
this country and call upon America to
range itself on the side OF those who
are fighting, among other things, to re-
move the yoke of British oppression
| from the necks OF the Irish. the Beers,
the Hindoos, the Persians, the Lon
do1ese, the Egyptians, the Cypriotes,
the Grcclzs, and several other small ma
%tions," what would happen? Would
such All intruder be allowed to deposit
a laurel wreath OH the grave Of George
Washington Ate Noyrs admirers
may not know, possibly chat Mr.. WASH
iilgton, Of Virginia, was in the business
Of fighting the British, and is reported
to have been quite successfully
. i *
Now that it is beginning to appear
ever 10 the most unsophisticated Ameri-
can that Great Britain has little more
hope OF seeing her misguided vassals de-
feat the Central Powers, the malice Of
American colonials becomes more and
more unbridlcd. Ex-President Eliot. of
Harvard, insists more loudly than ever
upon sending the American navy to the
rescue of the Kings fleet, helpless be-
fcre German submarines and cruisers.
From all sides stories are heard about
boycotts quietly directed against people
with Teutonic names, in social bust
ness and no doubt soon in political af-
fairs. Anonymous letter writers are at
their work again, as they were last sum
meT. The bitter scurrility Of the news
papers has apparently abated a little, for
the business managers have told a story
OF decreasing sales. The more safe, be-
cause concealed and unavowed attacks
on individual Germans are increasing
III number and i~nsidiousness. No doubt
this species Of warfare will become
more v%irulent the more the triumphant
victory Of the Germans on the other
side OF the oceankbecomes an assured
fact.
These are hard times for Germans all
the world over. Why should we, on this
side Of the Atlantic, complain? Just
think how much worse it would be to
suffer the humiliation, the ~ill-concealed
sense Of shame, the consciousness OF be-
ing a coward and a moral traitor. which
must fill the breast Of an American
Coloniali