Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-03-15


readers in this column that the So
called American Rights Commit
tee" had for that evening engaged
Carnegie Hall. New York, for a mass
meeting to give public expression TO
"the opinion Of those who believe
that the time has come for the United
States to take far advanced posi-
tion in opposition to the Teutonic
allies"
Mr. Bernard II. Ridder has the
following to say of that meeting.
Our meddlesome friend, Mr. George
Haven Putnam, who was born in
England and who claims American
ism only on the biological ground
that a kitten which first secs light in
an oven is not a biscuit and one given
birth to on top Of stove is less a
lemon pudding, held his meeting at
Madison Square Garden last night.
The association which Mr.. Putnam
heads, and which sponsored last
nights meeting, carries The impress
sive title of THE American Rights
Committee" Among the American
Rights" which it sponsors are these,
taken from "a Declaration OF Prin-I
ciples by American Citizens" a cir
tee inviting American signatures:
a. We believe that there is
morality Of nations which requires
every government to observe its
treaty ty-obligations and to order it's
conduct with a decent respect to the
opinions Of mankind
"2. We believe that the Teutonic
powers have repudiated the obliga-
% al
raised issues which lift the present
struggle from the sphere of European
political disputes to a crisis involving
all humanity
%. We believe that in the face Of
such a world-crisis our people cannot
remain neutral and our government
should not remain silent.
-. We condemn the aims of the !
Teutonic powers, and we denounce
as barbarous their methods of war
fare.
IS. We believe that the Entente
Allies are engaged in struggle 70
prevent the domination of the world
by armed force and are striving 10
guarantee to the smallest nation its
rights to an Independent and peace
full existence
'6. We believe that the progress
OF civilization and the free develop
ment Of the principles Of democratic
government depend upon the success
of the Entente Allies.
~. We believe that our duty to
humanity and respect for our ma
tional honor demand that our gov
crnment take appropriate action 10
place the nation on record as un-
alterably opposed to the aims and |
methods Of the Teutonic Alliance. |
and as deeply in sympathy with the !
efforts Of the Entente Allies to re- !
move the menace OF Prussian mill |
itarism"
The rights" alluded to may all be
condensed into one--and that q !
right" in no accepted sense OF tho
word. A great majority Of the Amer |
lean people believe in nothing as yet |
advanced by Mr.. Putnam's propagan- !
da They are content with the |
amusement which 1t affords them. !
They are not yet prepared to 80 TO
the direct help of harassed France |
and Great Britain" as suggested by
d. Eliot, and inferentially by M.
Putnam. They have work enough at
home.
The British propaganda in This
country showed its head in the grass
many months ago. With the increas-
ing burden OF an unsuccessful at
tempt to destroy the Central Empires
bearing down on England the second !
alarm Is sent in. The friends Of
Britain in this country are respond !
ing nobly to the call.
I'VE believe that the Entente Al !
4 10 -,
vent the domination Of the world by
armed force" runs the literature Of
'The American Rights Committee,
"and are striving to guarantee the |
smallest nation it's rights TO an in
dependent and peaceful existence
Whore, then we're the rights Of
Venezuela pronouncedly q small na- |
tion, in 1905, when England had her
eyes on the 'auriferous soil" at tho /
mouth of the Orinoco; where the |
rights OF the Boer Republics in 1898, |
when England's eye became fixed on
the diamond fields Of South Africa
where the rights Of Persia in 1907, !
when England and Russia divided the
territory OF this small nation" be-
tween them and where the rights of
China, louted by every principal !
NlfliOGl VI illt lJlltCiltg OlN Nh'''
subsidiary allies, from the time of
the first western intercourse with
that ancient and respectable people?
There was nothing said at last
nights wake of THE American
Rights Committee" that could in
spire a right-minded American to al
ter his position vis-a-vis the claims Of
the contending factions in the pres
Nff sr of etl
swung from our convictions by
vituperation We may listen, at
times, with equal patience TO tho IL
logical assaults made upon the mo-
tives OF Great Britain and those
upon Germany and her allies. We
accept them, however, as food for our
pipes only.
The propaganda which our meddle-
some English friend is carrying on in
this country is not particularly dan
gerous as such. Somewhere under