Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-09-05

their opinions of Germany and her &C.
lions in this war, | will now state
what the American opinion is in re
gard to some of the vital issues which
have been raised. In doing this, will
not endeavor to explain that opinion,
to criticize it. nor to defend 1t. Neither
will | give you my personal opinion
on the several points, for my own per.
sonal opinion is of slight consequence
when we are discussing the attitude OF
an entire nation. If you desire, | will
be glad TO tell you, on some other
occasion, just how far my own opin-
ions coincide with the collective opin.
ion of the country at large. and just
where | differ from that opinion. Ny
object at present is simply to interpret
American opinion to you as il exists
today. When | say American opin.
ion," ! mean, of course, the opinion
OF the vast majority of our people. a
significant proportion of the German
born population and very small pro.
portion of natiTe Americans Casually
those married to Germans OF other
wise connected with Germany dis.
agree with the opinions cited But
over sc per cent of our population may
safely be said 10 hold the views de.
scribed as American" below.
In the first place. Americans, in gen
eral, make distinction between the
German government and the German
people. They realize that certain fea-
lures of the Prussianised government
have never appealed favorably to the
Bayarians, the SaXOns, and other Gle
ments of the German population. |
do not mean by this that Americans
believe any part OF Germany is dis
loyal To the government. On the con.
trary, they believe the German people
as whole are supporting the govern
mcnt and its acts with devotion, and
that, therefore. the German people as
whole are responsible for whatever
acts the government commits. But
Americans recognize the reality of
Prussian leadership in the policy OF
your country. They do not believe the
German people wanted the war; but
they do believe the military govern.
mcnt. under Prussian control, wanted
the war. planned for ii with infinite
skill and efficiency for many years.
and brought it about when they be
lieyed the time was ripe.
Americans have no doubt whatever
that the insolent ultimatum to Scrvid
was delivered for the purpose of pro.
voking war and that Austria would
never have dared sent it were it not
for the fact that the German govern
ment assured her free hand in
advance. as has been officially admit
ted by your government. The fact thai
Austria refused to make public tn,
full evidence on which she based hCI
accusations against the Servian gov
Crnment. added to the fact that she
made these accusations after sccrC
Investigation in which the defendant
had no representation. has shockc,
not only America but the cntir,
world: and has convinced the world
as whole, that Austria and German!
were more guilty Of wrongdoing thar
Was Seryia.
Americans nave studied CAREFUL,
the official documents issued by tn
different governments concerning IN
origin OF the war. and have had tn
ad,aataa. OF seeing all the paper
which each has published The off
cial papers issued by England, Gel
many. France, Austria, and the othc
governments have been printed in fal
In pamphlet form, and have been Gag
| erly studied by the whole nation. Edi
ton after edition has been exhausted
by the people eagerly seeking to lcarI
the truth. In Germany there has beer
no such eagerness to learn the trutl
by careful, critical study Of the oilicia
sources of information, and LEADING
Germans have regretfully admitted
that too many OF the German people
were content to accept their govern
ments statements as the truth, with
out attempting to use their own In
tollIgence In the matter In the opin
ion of Americans the official doeu
ments, and especially the admission
made by your government In its at
tempted defence, prove that the Gel
man government forced the war In OF
der TO satisfy the ambitions OF tn
military party which has long been II
control. when you have q chance L
read certain documents which you
so.rrnmcnt does not let you read no"
Won can form an impartial Judgment Il
IA whether or not Americans and Tia
othcr neutral peoples have been u:
inst In deciding that Germany is re
s,opsiblc for tho war. Until that tim
Won wifi. Of course. feel that tn
Iudgmonl Of the world does your cour
l.. .-....a III. 0nypYnmtu