New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-07

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: / am not a German-American; am
an English-American. There is, presume,
no crime in this fact; the only crime comes
when one is a German-American. | am not
"srtisan OF the Kaiser. | regard him as
H. purge of Europe, just as Napoleon was
a hundred years ago. | am an American OF
the &c tn generation, with nothing in me but
English blood. | don't hate the English; IN
fact. / rather admire them, even though IN
peaceful times they do ridicule their Ameri-
can cousins On the other hand. neither DO
hate the Germans; in fact, like the Ger
mans | have known. The Germans are only
unfortunate in their leader, just as the
French were unfortunate a century ago.
They will have TO suffer sooner or later, Jus'
az the French did for God is still on his
throne and the German Kaiser must eventu-
allv bow TO Him and His unsuitable laws
The European war depresses me. When
am asked if I not for the Allies reply
that am; and am also for the Germans ana
all those other poor, unfortunate, war-mad
people of Europe. When am asked II am
not Mortified by the German atrocities in Bel
GUM | say that | am. However, refuse TO
think entirely in the present. as most persons
American bravado of the great 81 am |
believe and trust I'd shoulder a gun gladly
to defend every inch Of our country, just as
my ancestors have done at Lexington, Bunker
Hill and in our lamentable Civil War, and
also believe that the great majority OF our
German-American citizens would as willingly
and gladly shoulder their guns TO protect the
stars and Stripes that have afforded them
refuge from German militarism and given
them a land of promise. comforts, rights and
euccess Ny feeling is that our German
Americans only resent England being placed
upon a pedestal, while their fatherand is
dragged in the mud. don't blame them.
Should "show down" however, be demanded
between this country and Germany believe
all our COMMUNICATIONS, beyond mere
handful of traitors, would stand Loyalty by
the best friend they have ever had-Uncle
Sam.
will acknowledge that since 1870 the Ger
mans have been overbearng. France forced
the Franco Prussian War just as highland
eddy as Germany forced this present war, for
no one but German believes all the silly
claims 70 the contrary. By that war Germans
suddenly discovered that after all, they were
somebody and became very sef-suficient and
proud and offensive. and we should probably
have done likewise had we been used rs the
door mat Of Europe for centuries Every
time German sees his ruined castles on the
Rhine he remembers atrocities committed BIZ
the French some two or three centuries ago
that make atrocities in Belgium seem mild.
And as for Alsace- Lorraine, it was originally
German territory, and the Germans only did
in 1870 what the French did some few gener-
atoms before. One may say. however. that
that is all past and has nothing TO do with
the present. There are other facts that can
be presented.
England. for once, seems in the right in
this present conflict. Il is amusing TO hear
the arguments the Germans raise to the con-
trary. However, England tore up the treaty
of Copenhagen when il suited her purpose TO
dc so just defantly did the Germans the
treaty Of Belgium. When we speak of Ger
man atrocities and frightfuness, do we for
get that the English put weapons in the
hands of the savage Indians TO massacre
helpless and innocent women and children i'm
our own Revolution. and that in the Indian
Mutiny the captured natives were shot alive
from the mouths Of cannon TO terrorize the
country? Moreover, why censure the Ger
mans for making an ally of the unspcakable
Turk, while England fights with the equally
unspcakabe and mobile" Russians? Did Eng
land act rightcously in tho opium war in
China? And was she righteous In her sup
preston and treatment of the Beers? No,
All England wants is her Cape-.o- Cairo rail
re adj and only tho Germans now stand in her
way, and they will probably be soon over
come
As for ourselves, why condemn the Ger
mans for heartlessness toward their enemies
when in our Spanish American War American