TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-06-30
SPARE GERMAN AMERICANS THE HORRORS OF FRATRICIDE

SPARE GERMAN AMERICANS THE HORRORS OF FRATRIClDE
"No CONSUMPTION Of the mwfning~-is Mr. Wilson'S own slogan for the
solution Of the monentous problem that is facing us now. Almost ten
million men are enrolled as potential soldiers OF these oneha! possibly
Americans who claim exemption from service is smaller in proportion than
that Of any other racial contingent. No German American desires to
evade his duty, but there are few German Americans who are not anxious
to escape the horror Of fratncide.
We repeat our urgent suggestion to the Government to allow German
American conscipts the option Of serving their country without striking
at the breast that nounshed them or their fathers. Men ire needed for
coast defenses. men are needed to guard the Mexican border, men are
needed in the Philippines, men are needed to till the soil Let German
American Drawn wrest food from the reluctant earth; let German Ameri-
cans serve their country even in military capacities, but not where they
are compelled to say their own kindred.
A mans arm is not apt to be steady, when his bullet may hit his own
brother. There arr, presumably, thousands Of German Americans who have
no such sruples, in whose breast the voice of the blood is hushed. Send
these men to the front They will make good soldiers. But do not send
those whose every instinct revolts against the task of manning flesh Of
their flesh and shedding blood Of their blood.
mo CONSUMPTION Of the unwiHing@ If we COMPEL these men to fight
we shall break their hearts. Bitterness will rankle in their thoughts, in
the thoughts of their children, in the thoughts of those who arr dear to
them. They will fight Americas battle from a stern sense Of duty, but
their spirit will be broken: their souls will be lost to America. Yet we
shall need these men after the war, for some day the war will end Wei
shall need men who can speak both our tongue and the tongue Of Luther
who can help US to rebuild what war has demolished.
The German Americans will be the logical intermediates between us
and the German people. We are not, Mr. Wilson tells us,a at war with the
German people But it will be difficult to convince citizens Of German
descent Of the truth Of this statement, if we COMPEL them to put bullets
into their brothers. The bullets Of German American soldiers viii not hit
the Imperial German Government, but humble mn OF thf !" race ana
kind. II, by moral or legal compplson, we force this unwecome task upon
Americans OF German descent, we shall drive an irreparahle wedge into
The cleavage Of races that is sure to ensuo in that case will last longer
than the hatreds that followed the Civil War. It is true that in our own
Civil War brother fought against brother but let US remember the anguish
it caused, and avoid the folly Of needessy reenaeting the tragedy Of those
dreadful DAYS Let US nt cite the Civil War IS a precedent. We might
as well cite the Bible. The fact that Cain slew his brother Abel has not
made fractrcde a eommendabe institution.
Although men fought against their kin in the War Of the Revolution
and in the Civil Var a revolution or civil war, by its very nature, IS a
family quarrel This cannot be said Of the present war Moreover, in
the War Of the Revolution and the Civil War, the existence of the United
States was at stake. we are not fighting or or existence to-day. = We
were, if the enemy were at our gate, if we were in imminent peril there
would be no room for nice ethical or ethnic distinctions.
We are aping the English in many respects where we should create
precedents Of NJ own Let us take a leaf out Of their book in the treat
ton. We have stated before on the authority Of Professor Kuno Meyer
that England doe~ not compel her German-bon citizens II their immediate
descendants to fight against Germany. She sends them to battlefelds
where they are not compelled to fight their own flesh and blood m deadly
combat. She uses them in the colonies and grants them the opportunity
of serving her in non-combatant capacities at the front. Shall We be less
magnanimous than the English?
Even If England should have departed from this rule, owing to her
present extremues. the United States is in no such predcament We have
millions of men, who are wiling, nay anxious, to hght IN Germans. we
refused the Offices Of Theodore Roosevelt and his recruits, who we're ready
to 60 to the front at once. How shall we justify before or own people
the rejection Of these volunteers if we now propose, contrary 10 te ietter
and TO the spirit Of President Wilson's pledge, the CONSUMPTION Of the I'M
dling? The question has received little publicity so fari nevertheless, IT
has engaged the attention of Congress. Senator ran hs spoken eloqueny
on the subject and Congressman Britten has introduced a resolution offer
ing to German Americans the option of agricultural service.
If Americans Of German descent desire the Bntten resolution o q
similar resolution to pass they must speak out now. They need not fear
They are willing to serve. The very principle Of universal service Is Ger
man. They are not towards. Their records belle such an imputation
Is a man a coward because he refuses to sy his father? Do we usually
entust to a son the chasdsement Of his parents?
Let Us also remember this: The Fathers Of the Republic in their
wisdom clearly recognized the potency Of the voice Of the blood when they
barred fordgnbon citizens from the Presidency. II we refuse to endow
the foregn-born with all our privileges we should not impose upon them
all our duties. If we fear that even clothed with the awful responsibility
Of the office Of President, his heart will speak out for the land of his fore.
bears, is it right to compel him to shoulder a gun against that land? III
it would hamper him in his duties IS chief magistrate Of the Republic
have we reason to believe that its voice will not be heard If we ask him
to plunge a dagger into the heart Of his mother?
From the comments Of our contemporaries on the suggestion to grant
German Americans certain options open to other Conscientious directors,
we are convinced that the American people realize the justice of our con-
tention. Our country is not in immediate danger. We are strong enough
to be generous. Therefore, we appeal once more to the President to
acknowledge the Conscientious objections Of German Americans against
fratrdde. Surely, this objection is not less weighty than the religious
scuples of a member 0, the Quakers community. The German Americans
will richly reward such consideration by doubling their service in other
fields. Impose upon them any task that is needful but do not cruelty them
upon the altar Of their American patriotism.
GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK.