New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-03
VICTIMS OF NECESSITY
How the Allied Nations Led tho
Germans Astray.

! o the Editor OF l he ! rlpune
Sir: The letter published under the ute
"a Nation Soul" deserves an answer II
deserves an answer because OF the sentence
I've must prove that our melting pot mas
melted and that the pro-Germans among US
are merely the scum Of impurity which gain
ers around its lip This Is a fatal sentiment
20 express by one who throughout in MS
letter is bewailing the soul OF his nation as
rot sufficiently practising self-denial, unseif-
ishness, sincerity and the rest OF the virtues
which civilized nations in general hnd II
necessary 20 always preach. But, aside from
this. and for the sake OF stating why am
pro German. shall take the statement Tor
ranted. and accord it what it does not de
serve, serious attention.
I have been sojourning in this country
these last twenty-five years, and during these
years my soul has been tortured By MUS
tice. folly. deceit, chicanery, hypocrisy, sell
ishness. discrimination and all other evils as
have seen them make their way 10 the
luppermost and foremost seats under cover
Of assumed and feigned virtues.
My time has been spent IN the unselhsh
irursuit 10 End a remedy against these HIS
and 10 rid the land of my adoption OF them.
Tor the sake Of finding this remedy ! made
against my natural inclination, an exhaust
i've study Of science. philosophy and religion,
and all proposals. soclalistc. anarchistlc'
feministic were entertanedsand tried for
similar purpose Needless 20 say, did not
ind the remedy During these years had
lost all track OF home and Fatherland ! had
loft il with the idea gathered from English
books and arguments. that it was not worth
- lof4 - Wit
The intention Of forgetting il, and il had been
FORGOTTEN in the pursuit OF the remedy I
ought against the ills Of this trust-ridden
land.
had been made 70 believe that in Amer
lea all men were equal, and had embraced
the doctrine and applied it as Teuton
alone can apply IT, For in the Fatherland
all men are equal in fact, and inequality is
practised only from sense Of duty and
from necessity. and this necessity is the
effect Of not a Teutonic scheme, but Of the
activities Of the very nations who now make
war upon US because We have become civil
ized. even as they made war upon US for
mcrlv because we were not and would not
become civilized.
# We had been left alone we would still
be living Ike the Indians. unconcerned about
such trifes as civilization, commerce, cult
ure the balance Of power, etc. II we had
been left alone We would still have lived
untouched by your civilization. IN bliss with
cur own thoughts. pure adamant and clear
AZ diamonds But We were not left alone. \
/ fatal necessity brought us in contact with
"a people who loved lived and practised a
paradox the paradox Of living a life in this
world as II there was no life hereafter.
/ Let il not be forgotten that we did not live
/ his paradox, did not develop It, but that il
was forced upon US against our will and
judgment!
Rome civilized US, partly by force, partly
By deceit and cunning Rome created our
princes and principalities. our prelates and
our merchants All was forced upon u.s.;
nothing sprang up spontaneously. We
adopted it because we were told that IL was
Of God and in accord with His command
ments We adopted il from a sense Of duty.
/ Our carefree life, our freedom, our indi-
vidualty all was exchanged for yoke un-
der which We have labored ever since from
sense Of duty, not from inclination. not
/ from lust Of power, nor wealth, nor anything
that rejoices the heart Of an Italian, a
Frenchman or an Englishman.
In vain did we grappe with the decei'
and cunning of the civilized peoples Oar
very thoughts and intuitions were utilized
egainst Us. Civilized diplomacy embroiled
Us continually in warfare among ourselves.
I The balance Of power and its problems were
settled by setting one Teutonc tribe or
principally against another. Our land was
always the battle-ground OF powers who spon-
tancously grew and fourished like straw
berry plants. shooting roots here and shoot
ing roots there until the earth had been
covered. When they fell out about their
paltry possessions we had to do the lighting
| AZ last We woke up, or rather We fell