Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-04-07
A TIMELY WARNING.

IlimS, clubS ana lnulNiuudlS nave SCI
the very bad example of discharging
from their employment all Germans
and persons of German descent.
This is not patriotism. It is down
right stupidity. And it is blow at
the country's only weak spot.
Above everything else now, the
nation requires peace within and all
its available labor.
Any firm or person that makes a
peaceable and well-disposed German
resident or German-American citizen
sullen and resentful by unmerited
discharge from employment and by
thrusting him out in the street to
face idleness and hunger, does Just
that much to add to the nations
troubles, which are enough now.
Such stupid and unmanly treat
ment of unoffending employees does
worse, for it depriyes the nation Of
workers when above everything else
the nation needs workers
The Government has just warned
alarmingly short The country has
been stripped, as few realize, to feed
Europe. There will be severe priya-
ton among all but the very well-to-
do before the coming haryests are
gathered, and the conditions promise
to be the very worst this nation has
ever seen AFTER the haryests, un-
less every available pair of hands is
engaged in production.
There are not less than three mil
lion German, Austrian and Hungar-
ian workers in this country, and il
this asininc and thoroughly un-
patriotic boycott OF these workers
should spread from the fools who
first thought of it to the country in
general, we will not have enough
labor to provide the nations food
and equip the nations navy and
army.
Every man who insults and abuses
peaceable Germans and German
Americans and so stirs up hatred
and resentment, and every man who
throws a peaceable and unolfending
German or German-American out of
employment, does his own country
severe injury.
Such a man is not showing patri-
otism. He is exhibiting species or
idiocy, and is guilty Of moral treason
to the nations welfare.
The President expressly deprecated
such folly in his speech to Congress.
We happen to know that he looks
upon all such conduct with aversion
and contempt, and fears its evil
effects more than any efforts of open
enemies
The desire CT the President and
the hope of all sensible and patriotic
men is that everybody win treat the
Germans resident among us and the
COMMUNICATIONS who are our fell
lcw-citizens with a manly and mag
unanimous courtesy and a full con-
sideraton of their difficult and pain
full situation. And that is what
every really brave and patriotic and
sensible American win do.
This is no time to be sowing dis
cord and suspicion, and encouraging
animosities and hatreds here at
home.
Such conduct is more than foolish.
1t is criminal-and its results are
reasonable.
We ought to set the highest ex-
ample Of reasonableness, forbearance,
toleration, good sense and the
capacity to keep level heads in the
most exciting times that the world
has ever seen.
The brightest reputation that we
can possibly gain is to have the
world say afterward that we showed
as much good sense and chivalry at
home as our sailors and soldiers
showed endurance and valor in the
camp and on the field Of battle
The man who stains that reputa-
tion by mean and abusive treatment
OF helpless and inoffensive persons Of
foreign birth or foreign parentage
here at home is no friend to his coun-
try's good name. and proves himself,
as q matter of fact, to be just one OF
the sort who are the most belligerent
in peace and the most to be ce-
pended upon to run from real
danger.
Really brave men are as courteous
to and considerate Of those who are
unfortunately and painfully situated
as they are cool and fearless in the
face Of threats and danger.
We trust that the good sense Of
manly Americans viii put an immedi-
ate stop to this propaganda of cow
( ardly mistreatment of our German
residents and our citizens Of German
descent.
They ere behaving themselves ad-
mirably, under the most trying cir
cumstances, and everybody should
recognize that fact gratefully and
treat them accordingly the Presi-
| dant lirgos rs all to do