The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-05-03
THE RIGHT SPIRIT
PROPERLY SET OUT
A GERMAN AMERICAN CITIZEN
PLACES DUTY ABOVE SENT.
MENT IN WAR
WRITES HIS VIEWS IN CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Comment by Tribune on Letter Writ
ten Just Before War Broke Out
With the Kaiser

HN oiiiNl0 ldhtI HUH lllc
Chicago Tribune of April 3, 1917. is
very timely and well worth reading.
The Tribune receives many express
sions Of opinion which are worthy the
attention of its readers and are there
fore given publication. But not in the
course of the present war have we re-
eciyed a communication which better
deserves consideration at this time
than the following:
March 80, 1917
The Editor Tribune: My emotions
tell me one thing at this awful time,
but my reason tells me other things.
AS a German by birth it is a horrible
i calamity that | may have to fight Ger
mans. That is natural is it not? But
as al American by preference | can
see no other course open.
We are urged by sincere pacifsts
Ike Mr.. Pinchot to adopt "a vigorous
policy of defense and protection, but
no war; But attack it sometimes the
best protection.
For twenty-five years Germany has
shown dislike for the United States
the samoan affair. the Honkong on
tretempts, the Manila bay incident, the
unguarded words of the Kaiser himself
and, lastly, the Haitian controversy in
1914.
Whether it is right or not, pleasant
or not, the fact remains that the inter
ests of the two countries have fire.
quently conficted. And it has not been
from commercial or diplomatic
friction. 1t is because their Ideals Of
government are absolutely opposite.
One or the other must go down. 1t is
for us to say now which it shall be.
Because of my birth and feelings be-
yond my control | have no particular
love for the French and less for the
British. But by a strange irony Of fate
| see those nations giving their blood
for principles which hold dear,
against the wrong principles of people
/ individually love.
1t is a very unhappy paradox, but
one / cannot escape. / do not wan to
see the allies triumph over the land of
my birth. But | do very much want
to see the triumph of the ideas they
fight for.
1t sickens my soul to think of this
nation going forth t. help destroy
people, many Of whom are bound to me
by ties of blood and friendship. But it
must be so. 1t is like a dreadful sur.
gical operation. The militaristic, un-
democratic demon which rules Ger
many must be cast out. 1t is for us to
do it-NOW.
l try to tell myself that it is not our
affair, hat we should content our
selves with measures of defense and
armed neutrality. But l know that it
is not SO.
The mailed fist has been shaken un-
der our nose before. If Prussianism
triumphs in this war the fist will con-
tinue to shake. We shall be in real
peril and those ideas for which so
much of the worlds best blood has
been spilled through the centuries will
be in danger of extinction. 1t seems to
me common ems that we begin our
defense by immediate attack, when the
demon is occupied md when we can
command assistance.
There is much talk of what people
like me will do, and fear of the hyphen
Mr.. Wilson by his hesitancy and vacil-
lation shows that he doubts the soil
darity of the nation.
But / think the nation is only crop
ing for leadership. If the president
would realize the value of positive ac-
ton be could bring all the people into
unity at once. A ringing declaration
of war, with a calm statement that We
enter the struggle to save and strength
en- the institutions upon which our
state is built. would at ono bring all
the conflicting emotions of our people
into patriotic unity. Then all foolish
notions of copper-heads and traitors
would seem merely a bad dream.
In conclusion l wish to compliment
the Tribune because it is positive in its
thought. but reasonable. not yielding
to the empty wickedness of hateful
ness.
Let us make wal upon Germany,
not from revenge. not to uphold hair
splitting bubbles Of international law.