New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-22
A GERMAN IN IRELAND
With a Hint of What German Sym
pathy Means.
To the Editor % The Tribune.

10 tne EOllOr or ] ne ITDuNe
Sir: Ten years ago German professor
from Cologne stayed with me in my home
near Dublin being on visit TO Ireland TO
make inquiries TO conditions in Ireland
and sent over for the purpose By the German
government.
He was, Of course, very intelligent man,
and 7 talked 10 him a good deal about Ma
tionalst hopes for Ireland, he being sppar-
emily sympathetic He asked me, among
other things, II we found the Catholic Church
hindrance or a help, and finally whether
+. spent much money; and then he told
me that in Poland the Church spent good
deal of money in opposing German plans.
asked for an explanation. He replied that
when a Polish estate came into the market
the German government tried 10 buy 1t, but
that the Church interviewed and bought 1t
over its head. "And in the name Of
everything" I asked "for what reason do
either of you want 70 buy it?" Quite frankly
he said that the German government wanted
the estate in order TO turn out the Polish
tenants and put Germans in their place, and
the Church because they wanted the Poles TO
remain.
Ny German friend after few days left 70
visit Belfast, where he stayed as a guest with
the Mayor. On his return he refused to lis
ten to any talk on the Nationalist hopes and
showed himself 20 be a partisan Of the
Oransemen and OF Toryism generally
This German was a good specimen Of the
species. He had spent many years in London
where ! had made his acquaintance, He was
highly educated. yet these were his ideas
and these are the ideas Of his people and his
government. If they realize their hopes OF
victory they will make short work OF French
men, Bolgians and Irishmen. They will have
10 20. and Germans will take their places
The Germans are a predatory nation. They
want room. Their own land, sterile by the
hand Of nature. IS not enough for them. They
will lay hands on and hold in perpetuity
with German efficiency and science every fer
tile spot all over the globe. All Germans are
descended from God; therefore for them
might is right.
Judges Cohalan and GofT have the credulity
of Irish peasants, and really believe that to
hate England is craftsmanship. Hate Car
son II YOU like. Hate the Wings and Tories
II YOU will. but why hate the workmen OF Eng
land and the great progressive party OF which
the workmen are the background. and who
are NJ this moment strong for this war and
the victory Of France and England?
In my opinion. these English workmen and
the progressive party differ from these judges
only i'm this: that they would give a wider ho-
ertv 70 ireland than these judges have ever
dreamed OF. and remember Michael Dayitt
was AN active member OF the English pro-
gressivc party. d. s. hAI''
New York, March Is, 1916
F. S. The Belfast mayor with whom my
German friend stayed was German and, no
ooubt. like two consplrators they met gcnlally
10 discuss the downfall of England and the
exploitation Of Ireland. which would be for
thcm another and more fertile Poland Sev-
cral times he mentioned the Monroe Doctrine,
and ] sympathized with him when he depIorcd
the loss 70 Germany Of 50 many Germans
who went 10 America 10 be absorbed among
an English speaking people. lie told me that
the German government desired TO possess
Brazil and that this was made impossible by
the Monroe Doctrine. As to how things arc
tappcningin ireland during the present crisis
allow me TO quote from my daughter. In
letter Just received she says: "rhe farmers
arc making money. While whiskey is too dear
?, buy thank goodness they are banking
'her money" The new gospel that ireland
should 10. allow any food 70 go out Of the
country would not appeal to the Irish farmer
n idcaism be the kind Of suicidal policy
preached by these latter day patriots, J am
afraid he is a poor idealst. J. y. \.