The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-09
From Other
Editorial Pages
GERMAN LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS

~
kansas &ty tMol Journal There
seems 70 be sharp line Of demarka'
tion between the great body Of German
Americans in this country and the Ger,
man language newspapers. There Is AM
organiration known as the National Sc
curity league. whose identity appears
10 be somewhere ohScured In the multt
plicity of bodies having for their avow-
ed or pretended purpose the propoga'
tion OF loyalty among the people as
whole The league recently sent out
invitatiolis GO a large number Of editors
OF papers printed In the German Ian
cuage. suggesting that they 80 on re
cord as being unequivoCally loyal 70 the
United States. the country q their adop-
tion. In the war non being wased
against the government of the So-called
mother country"
The curious result followed % no par
tcularly truculent or uncompromisins
replies the invitation being as a general
proposition almost wholly ignored
From one point " view. j, might be
argued that the editors considered the
i suggestions as an affront 90 their loyal
ty ana conveyed the impression that
thsir uatr.1tism was So wen established
Itr1t ID ala not need formal affirmation.
[ This would have been encouraging and
rrrrtfrirc r it had been a condition
/ based upon the facts The contrary
/ however. IS the ease. A good deal ot
I trouble has been occasioned by the Sc
kditious utterances Cf papers printed in
tre German language ana much wholly
lundeSsr,.eI otium has been transferred
/ On consequence. 20 ths German-Amer.
cans as class.
The line which experience has prov
si mus. De- drawn between the German
|areuaEe press and the German-Amer
/ leans O.. Cd whole prove, that the Amer.
can ..ople viI NOT visit ans hasJ'
/ Judgment upon the latter and the Toy
IaIty ct the Germar-Amer.cans only re
lrect the greater discreiit upon the Ger
Imam language editors. who have refuse,
|t5 make specific declarations % thel
| LOYALTY dut have continued their utter
Iarct~ o. q point which has uecessltate,
Ithe suppression and densi ~ admission
Itc che mails ~ several of the mor'
/ hsirousiy offending ORGANS. 10 has oeel
Iro.rtef OUT and with great pertlnency
THAT German language papers are bl
no means the only Instances % trei
sorahle expressions blt the fact doe
'ud, tl~culr, the seriousness ot the Of
ltsr>a itself 10 proves al the NOR
corcusltet that the expression o
views wr.cr so far beyond the mos
liberal allowances ~ the tralti0ua
freedom of speech auj freedom 20 pres
is NOT o. Be- tolerated no matter .u wha
LANGUAGE the views may be given.
I The people are n no mood % pu
lup with SsdIuon 40 home and fgh
lPrussanism abroad az the same tim
and they viii heartily approve an,
measures. no matter how rigorous, wiki
lin the limits q reason and justice whici
may b. taken % punish this overt an.
defiant resistance 20 the purposes ~ IN
! nation as ratified by the people. Ten
| peratsr criticism is not only lawful ou
welcome. Il founded on facts. But sue
criticism j. not On mask deliberate an
vituparative abuse 0f the nation or o
the president nor it i % ven trea
sonabie eSpouSil u the cause q n
government With which the Unite
/ states j. az var. The people are 1eal
ous u the liberty 20 the press, Tor uroi
il their liberty depends. But they wl
not permit their government to d. sd
lnned by enemies within their gates. Al
lauen or German. sympAth.Esr Uho
rot satisfied with conditions -Xls--rc j
America OF who does rot approve th
iuoIcies % This country Is cordially a
liberty o. 81 hsrce-ari DO Is 1lt
- -iIrChab.e that some % them will b- sen
? fhsacs before Ions