Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-28
tPortland Telegram.)

Astoria, Ore.-(To my Fellow CHI
zens of German extraction. Like Her
cules, We German Americans are stand
ing today at the parting of the ways.
The land of our birth, aud the country
which we have made our home by
choice, have been drawn into the mael-
strom of the bloody conflict of the
world war and we German-American
are today confronted with the difficult
task of deciding to whom we shall
throw our support. In my humble opin-
ION there is but one conclusion to be
drawn, and that is to stand with Ameri-
ca. and behind America to the utmost
of our abilities. In arriving at this con-
clusion, / beg of you 40 remember the
various motives which caused us, or our
forefathcrs, to leave the country of our
birth and become citizens of this great
nation.
Some of us came to avoid military
service, and upon arriving here, were
not forced to devote from two TO three
years of the most valuable time of our
lives to compulsory military service.
Welcomed to America.
Some of us came, starving and hung
ry as a result of the over-population of
our native country ana compelled to
immigrate by its concomitant condi-
tions, entered the government service,
the professions, went into business OF
our own. and the American public sup
ported us heartily
Some of us came, tired of the class
caste and Gloss distinction and the at
tending prerogatives and privileges pre-
yailing in the country of our birth and
upon arriving here We round free Ian
where everybody, including ourselves,
had equal rights.
Some of us came, tired and disgusted
of the bare and meagre livelihood which
we were only able to earn in the father
land. in spite of ineessant hard work,
and endurance, Upon settling here,
some of us have become immensely rich,
the greater majority of lis have amassed
comfortable fortune and all of us
have at least earned an abundant hv-
ing.
< Some of tis came without child or
chattel America gave us a home, we
have married and settled since.
Some of us came because all of the
real property of the country of our birth
was in the possession and tenure of aris-
tocratic landowners, who held their pos
sessions either at exorbitant prices, or
would not sell at all America received
us with open arms took us, like a COM
passionate mother, to her bosom, allowed
us to share in the taking up of the pub
lie domain, resulting in the acquisition
by thousands OF us, of some of the
most valuable land of this hemisphere
Some of us came thoroughly dissatis
fled with German conditions and after
settling here and becoming acquainted
with American habits and conditions
of living are now receiving the protec
ton of this government and the privil
eges and immunities of the rest of its
citizens and are settled and satisfied.
Ingratitude Basest of Vices.
Brethren, avarice is the root of al
evil, but ingratitude is ten thousant
times worse than that, and is the worst
of all crimes. For no other reason but
gratitude should we stand behind this
government. But there is another rea
son. When we applied to become ant
when we became citizens of this grea1
country we rendered and subscribed tt
solemn oath renouncing all polltlca
allegiance to the emperor of Germany
and to our native country and pledgins
our support to this government. Ihos'
are the conditions upon which we wer'
allowed to become citizens. In our
native language we say "a man-i
word the meaning Of which is vel
understood by you, and | feel that W.
are duty and honor bound to remain
faithful to our oath. "Whose bread
eat. his song / sing" is another of ou
well-known German expressions. Amerl
ca has given us home, has protecte'
us, has clothed us, has fed us and on
families, and | say again, that | fee
we are in honor bound TO support Ameri
ca is i'll this conflict and that it is GU
sworn-and solemn duty so to Whe1
/ use the word Support do no
mean to be understood as saying that
request of you to rush to the nearcs
recruiting office, in order to offer y II
services to this country. That is tn
individual privilege of those who wis
to do so, unless we are drafted into TN
sergicc,by the government. This govern
ment has always maintained reason
allie attitude and | am fully convince
win adhere to principles of sound rea
son even in this critical hour | al
sure America does not expect of thos