River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-11-29
Cerman-AmericanPr Press
Continued from page Il

can have any sympathy Tor Kaiser
ism. The secret of it is that the
German American papers have fed
him up on stories of the petty and
domestic virtues of the Imperial
family. From these stories one
would think all the Hohenzollerns
had inherited the virtues of Freder-
lex the Great and Queen Louise In
the stories the poor but beautiful
girl always marries the noble lover
and is received as an equal by his
family. The favorite Of the serial
stories is the Wars of Liberation
when Germany by united and heroic
effort threw off the tyranny Of Ma
poleon. People who had been serv-
ed with such educational material
for years, were ready to believe
when war broke out, that it was
only another case Of aggression by
the wicked enemies of Germany.
After the outbreak of the war the
natural line of propaganda was to
preach hatred of England. England
was constantly pictured as the wick
ed aggressor who would stop at
nothing. People wonder how any
one in Germany or anywhere else
can defend the massacre of women
and children on the Lusitania. I
have heard good christian people of
my home town defend it most We
hemently. When took look at
what they had been reading, was
not surprised. The Prussian system
of education has been bearing its
fruits even in this country.
Since our country has entered the
war the German-American papers
are absolutely ostensit ly loyal, but
they take every opportunity to en-
gender suspicion of our allies We
were told that Congress had taken
effective action dealing with the
German language press. We had
supposed the law required publica-
ton of translation of all war news
and comment. AS a matter of fact,
all that is required is that the paper
file translation with the postmast-
er at the office Of issue. Can we i'm
agine anyone publishing English
propaganda in Germany under any
such onerous restriction? Since
the State Department came into po-
session of the German cipher we
have learned the price of some of
the German newspapers of New
York. It would be interesting to
know how much of our German dali
lies of Milwaukee received. If the
Kaiser regards faithful service, they
lould prosper for season.
AS one who knows many German
Americans can say confidently
that had this country taken stand
for the right in 1914, many who are
wavering now would be giving
hearty support to the war. We were
told from the highest quarters that
the war was none of our business;
that we must be neutral "even in
thought After being told for three
wears that this was an European
embroglio that did not concern us,
the man who loved Germany and
hated England may perhaps be par
doned for thinking we were going
to the aid of England.
But all sentimertality aside, we
shall win this war or Germany will.
It is time everyone who has a
stake in this country realized this.
l believe the vast majority of Ger
man Americans realize it. | have
more hope of these people than
have of our Pacifist element. FOR
one thing, the German everywhere
has some sense of physical reality.
He knows that the physical force of
GERMANY cannot be overcome by
pious phrases. We cannot blame
the old man for a sentimental at
tachment for the land of his birth.
But how about our son of American
harentage who has studied Amerl-
can history and lived among Ameri-
can institutions, who cannot under
stand that we have any quarrel with
German militarism? From consid-
cradle acquaintance with both be-
lieve the latter is infinitely more
dangerous to the country than the
former in this time of trial.