TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1916-04-10
Open Letter to the Government Of the United
States through Vice President Marshall.

those OK German and Irish blood, but
also from all others who love peace
too We'll to support "A war that "
brought about merely for the up
holding OF a legal, technical right.
No matter .how glibly, or how
learnedly and eloquently this stand
Of the President for so-called amer
icnn rights' may be defended and
e%ulogized, 1t will not prevent the
majority Il speak advisedly when /
say majority Of the Americas people
from thinking that the physical and
moral welfare Of the American people
is Of greater Importance than the
UNFOLDING of a formal right.
| will not argue las / might the
question as TO whether international
Law, rightly interpreted, gives Amer
lean dare-devils the fight for which
President Wilson contends. ! viii.
waive that question. But l ask you,
as a Christian man, whether a law
ought to be enforced regardless OF
its consequences? / call your atten-
! ton TO the principle laid down by
your Lord and Saviour and mine,
when he said. Man was not made
for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath
for man. So you viii agree that
international law has the purpose Of
conserving the welfare of mankind.
and not to be a Moloch to whom
mankind must be sacrificed. But
now, ii Mr.. Wilson, conformity with
Mr.. Lansing, should turn this inter-
national law into an instrument OF
destruction by making its non-obssr
ance by the Germans In their present
emergency a easus beliI, what then?
Then, ! say, We as a people will be
made the victims OF one of the most
horrible tyrannies inflicted on hum
anity in any age.
And then let US ask what the con.
sequences OF such a course must be.
Il do not ask what consequences it
might have In Europe: whether 1t
would help the Presidents friends,
the British, to win the war or not.
u am not much concerned about
that.) / ask what win be the certain
consequences In American
First, a cleavage between onr OWL
people, the effects OF which we can
not contemplate without the direst
apprehension, effects which would
make themselves felt for generations
to come.
Second. an expenditure of billions
of dollars, which would be double
the amount OF what it would cost in
ordinary times, because Of the hnr-
richness with which we woufa ne
compelled to make our preparation.
Just imagine the conyulsion into
which our nation would be i'm
~mediately be thrown.
Third, no matter how the war
turned out we would send many
thousands Of the flower OF our man
hood into certain death or lifelong
misery, and
Fourth, we would weigh down our
honest workers and Taxpayers ami
even their ehlldrens' children with a
burden, the immensely of which
would surpass our widest dreams.
considering the Consequences. 1t be.
comes evident that in such an event
the President, who has appealed 10
the interests Of humanity 30 mitch,
would inflict upon Us the grossest of
~inhumanities.
In the name OF God. under whose
eye | have written this appeal, IN
the name OF the sober, common
people Of America, as well as IN the
name Of mankind at large, I ask
you, nay dear Mr.. Marshall, and
through you, our honored President
Wilson and all who are entrusted
with any governmental functions al
the present time, TO s your in
fuence. before il il too late. to avert
the ~unspeakable calamity which must
necessarily come upon us il the
present course Of the Administration
is persisted in.
Assuring the President and all
concerned, not only of my persona
friendship, but OF the prayers o.
millions OF German Americans. thai
God may ill their hearts with eharit,
and wisdom, | am,
Sincerely yours.
Gustayus &. Hitler, Pastor
First German Methods
Episcopal Church, Indiana
polls, Ind.
P. s.-The question: will naturally
arise in your mind. why | did no
write this letter directly to ths
President. Ny reason is that | hay,
been told that IL would be impossible
for me to reach him by any letteI
might write. But / thought that
might reach him through the MAJ
! who holds the next highest Office il
the land. g. Il, n.