The Washington herald., 1916-01-17
Enemies on Our Own Soil.

before Capt. Won Papens checkbook containing the
evidence was seized 1t is even possible that Of
heials here were aware of the nature OF some of
the correspondence exchanged between the deport-
ed military attache and his associates and agents,
which has just been made public. They could not
have been in ignorance of the acts of war COM
rftted here against this country and against eoun-
tries with which it is at peace. They must know
that at this moment similar acts of war are being
plotted by German agents upon our soil.
The seizure of the "bloedsinng" Won Papen's
Ipapers by the British has, however, enlightened
the American public The payment of $500 to
Horn, who attempted to blow up bridge, the day
after the German Embassy deposited $4,000 to
Won Papen's credit in Washington bank would
be as convincing to an American jury it is to
the American public. The guarded phrases and
obscure references in the letters which the British
seized and made public conceal much but they
reveal hatred of the United States and the exist
ence of conspiracy inmical to its interests and
the welfare of its people. The Captains CORES
pondent singing himself r. " NJ, wrote THAT
the demand for the recall has been SO sudden and
belated throws interesting light upon the gov
ernment here. May here also the day of reckon
ing and our government find again that iron
determination with which alone one can make an
impression here" There is mistaking the sim
ister import of these words, unless the mistake be
made of understanding it. Der tag" for America
isits meaning, and while the pacihsts are striving
to bind the nation hand and foot, who knows in
how many. secret meeting places of Germany's
agents "der tag" for America is the toast? Presi-
dent Wilson, it must be assumed from the earnest
ness of his warning against disloyalty in his sd-
dress to Congress, is not blind to the situation.
That Germany and the United States are at
peace becomes difficult of understanding after
scrutiny of the evidence found in Won Papen's
effects. In truth Germany is not at peace with the
United States. Following the murder of our citi-
zens the high in contemptuous defiance of
our protests she has committed acts of against
us on our own soil 1t is not to be believed for
a moment that there will be a cessation of these
acts of war with the deportation of Dumba, Boy
Ed and Won Papen. The safe assumption is that
German agents and German consuls everywhere
carrying the work referred to in the letters
to Won Papcn. We may expect further evidence
OF it time goes by. Before this war began we
would have been at a complete loss for an explana-
tion of the large number of fatal explosions and
disastrous fires that have startled the country and
scarcely a day passes without its accident"
MORE
But the government of the United States, be-
yond demanding the recall of three diplomats, has
remained passive its enemy, still posing as a
friend, has made upon us. Not only has it
remained neutral in Germanys quarrel with the
rest of the world, in the face of such provocaton
as this nation has never before submitted to, but
apparently prove to itself that it is influ-
enced by such extreme provocation, it has made
the scales of its neutrality balance with its muir
dcred women and children on one side and its in
tercepted commerce on the other. 1t is now pre-
pairing to it's efforts in the direction of ham,
pering the allies in their for civilization and
humanity. But the American people are not neu-
trail and they make pretense of it. The murder
ed women and babies of the Lusitania long ago
made them forget the Presidents injunction to be
neutral issued at the outbreak of the war; and
score of deeds since have destroyed every vestige
of American sympathy for the German cause. The
people have drawn the distinction which tn cir gov
ernment cannot, and from them there will be no
approving response to any insistence upon the
adoption Of Washington's views upon the debatable
question relating to the movement Of merchandise
calculated to aid the murderers of our citizens and
injure those nations which, in fighting the battles
OF civilization, have shed no drop Of American
blood employed no hirelings to destroy its in
dustrics, sought to corrupt of its officials or
citizens and have yet to be proved guilty Of illc
gally placing any obstacle in the way of its trade
In supreme command of the seas there is not even
William P. Frye recorded against the allies
writer in the Outlook, Rev. Thomas Chal-
mers of New Hampshire, prominent in politics,
gives an account OF journey through portions
of eight Eastern States, during which he dis
cussed the with persons in every walk of life.
Of sixty-onc men with whom he convcrsed all but
three hoped the allies would win. OF many he
asked the question what they would advise
if they belieyed the ultimate victory of Germany
would result from our continued neutrality. The
answers all to the same effect; some of them
are here quoted ~