Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-05-17
PEIiSECUTING AMERICANS WHO
ARE NOT PRO-BRITlSH.

Bank. AS private concerns banks
have the privilege to employ Fill
Islanders il they prefer them. But
with the American Government it Is
different The American govern
ment has no right to distinguish as
to race, creed and color. But it is
being done, nevertheless. Some days
ago Mr.. Ernest Bruncken, Assistent
Register of Copyrights, was sum
marily dismissed from office by the
Librarian Of Congress, because Mr.
Bruncken is Of German origin and as
such he had not concealed his pro-
German sympathies and his opposi-
tion to certain of Mr.. Wilson's for
eign policies.
"A pretty pass seems to have been
arrived at in this country" says
Bernard ii. Ridder when the an
cient and undemocratic charge OF
lese majesty may be invoked by one
government function against an
other, as sufficient cause for dis
missal from ohice
"The President OF the United
States is by virtue of his Office as
such mmander-in-Chief Of the Ar
my and Navy To discipline which
time has written into the conduct OF
military bodies, and which is SO es-
sential to the proper maintenance OF
their morale, demands that subor-
dinates repress whatever opinions
they may entertain at variance with
those Of their superiors
THE Library Of Congress, how
ever. rs not under martial law The
Office of Assistant Register Of Copy
rights does not even come within
the purview of the Civil Service.
THE charges against Mr. Brunck-
en- whore inherently ridiculous, and
were never substantiated. A Just
court OF law would have thrown out
every iota Of evidence brought to
bear in support OF the action OF
Librarian Putnam
"A memorandum written by Mr..
Bruncken, at the request or Mr.
Putnam himself, includes the follow
ing caustic sentences:
Any friend of mine who has
ever had o serious conversation with
me, knows what / believe regarding
the deterioration or 'yulgarization'
Of the political, social and intellec-
tual life OF those nations, including
the American, which have come
under the influence Of the modern
tendency to rule by the multitude.
They viii also know that | have al
ways believed in the development OF
true American nationality and re-
gretted the prevailing tendency to-
wards an undue and at bottom un-
patriotic imitation of and subser-
viency to England.
obviously Librarian Putnam does
not believe in the development of a
true American nationality, or in the
advantage of permitting his sub
ordinatos to work for the advance
ment of its development.
The recitation of few historical,
political and biographical facts may
throw additional light on the rea-
sons which moved Mr. Putnam to the
summary dismissal OF DR. Bruncken
from the Office Of Assistant Register
of Copyrights.
The commission Of Mr.. Herbert
Putnam as Librarian Of Congress
dates from March 1899, which dis
covers the fact that Mr. Putnam is
an "Old Guard" Republican.
The Office the salary of which he
has drawn for the last seventeen
years is one not unlucrative. The
deserving Democrats who are look
ing for it are considered in number
-if not in merit
"The Crown totters on tho Throne
and some sacrifice on the Altar
Of wisconsin must be offered up, or
the throne is lost!
What better victim than one who
has made so bold as to assert d be-
lief in the possibility of developing
"a true American nationality as
distinst from mongrel British ma
on the American Continent
south Of the line which divides us
from Canadal
"A further light on the motives
Of Mr., Putnam is derivable from the
fact that both Mr.. Herbert Putnam
and Major George Haven Putnam,
our meddlesome British biscuit who
declines TO be called kitten because
he happened to be born in a London
oven, are sons Of the same parents.
The members of the Congress !
may well thank their stars that the |
lesser OF two evil brothers preside |
over their works OF reference. other |
wise there would have been long
ago comprehensive cleaning of the |
Augean Stable on Capitol Hill Of Of |
NNAAaAf~ TNitANAANdnApAits w nAAh ~ lC- /
sultant depletion or the effective /
staff of the Library Of Congress.
The war has seized political |
America where its hair is the short
ast-on the eve Of change of Adj
IA do not believe it to be the wish
Of the American people that differ |
ences Of opinion on Mr. Wilson'S for
aign policies shall be made the JUS
for dismissng efficient
members Of the government services
rom Office.
"a single charge OF ineniciency
)r malefeasance in office, or of con
iuct unbecoming a gentleman and
)ficer, properly substantiated, would !
lave removed any criticism Of the
lction of Mr.. Putnam in dismissing /
Mr. Bruncken from the post which
le held There was no such charge
preferred against Mr.. Bruncken. He
vas dismissed solely because OF his
belief and his immediate supenor's
in the development OF true