The Washington herald., 1916-05-07
Neutrality" in Politics.


Editor of The Washington Herald:
saw a few days ago in your paper the
following announcement:
The American Neutrality League,
composed Of persons of German ex-
traction, has issued a nationwide call
for a meeting at Portland. Greg, on
May of all German, Irish. Hungarian
and Austrian societies, TO effect a po-
litical organization to fight President
Wilson in the coming campaign.
can tell you in advance what will
happen a. this meeting. These "Ameri-
cans" to show their neutrality will
abuse the administration and some
Americans praise Germany. curse Eng
land and on account of the recent flat
failure of the Irish rebellion" go light
on the Irish stuff. Austria and Hun
gary will hardly be considered and the
band will play the good American air
'Wacht am Rheim," and "Deutchland
Uber Allies"
This is no neutrality league" but
move engineered by those who de-
sire Germany to win even at the ex-
pense of American rights and honor.
who realizing the provocation that Ger
many has given in for war, are trying
to keep another possible enemy from
her. At first they tried the peace cry
peace for Germany while she appeared
70 nave an duNdnldsGb Dul ICdAly NOhlh
not overcome her foes. I have watched
these peace meetings" and regret to
see that they have been carried into
the churches here.
Later this same bunch, while their
friends across the water are lombard
Ing Verdun. have been bombarding
Congress with fake letters and tele-
grams My! My! what a campaign Of
terror against Congress and the Amert-
,rsfv-h{1a
doves put up!
No American Of prominence or po-
liticaI standing whether he be Of Ger
man, Irish, Hungarian or Austrian
origin. is going to risk his reputation
as an American or his chances for po-
litical preferment by taking an open
part in such a move. It would be com
mittlrz political hari-kari. This move
is in reality what some of the German
papers are pleased to call our diplo-
matte notes-a bluff.
Trying in a liberal country to build
a political party on such a narrow
base Is futile. II there was no room
in this broad and tolerant country for
a political crowd with the cry Amer
lea for Americans" how long would a
party last with the slogan America
for the Germans" America for the
Irish" or America for the Hun
gartans?'
So let them have their meeting at
Portland, Ore. or Cmore appropriately
at Paterson, n. j. and talk until they
are black in the face, but don't an
swer them and their work will
amount to as much as that Of the
Hartford convention.
We have been through all this be-
fore in the administrations of Wash
lnEton and John Adams. Then break
ing our neutrality for the sake OF
helping our revolutionary ally. France.
was the source of contention. We
weathered the gale and the baby
America grew. II America overcane
this attack IN her infancy she will
surely quickly throw off this attack.
especially since the former trouble
was an issue between Americans alone
while this noisy affair with its sedi-
tious dolngs and sayings IS matter be-
tween Americans and comparatively
few foreigners.
We are now old enough to have
some sense and should act like 1t.
Some foreigners seem to think this
new and loose government. but it is
built on eternal principles.
AMERICAN READER.