Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-13
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| mercenary Amerieai
| Perhaps soon when our native blood
tinges European soil, We may hea!
the last of our being In the war for
selfish purposes. -
Obsessed by one idea, men like Mr.
c Bolte cannot understand any move
ment which is not, measured by q
| utilitarian standard.
Loyal to principles Of kultur so
antipodal to American spirit and SEN
tlment. Mr.. C, Bolte still remains
away from his fatherland which,, at
such a time 1t seems TO me, could
find some use for a man of his stamp.
That he should prefer to remain in
a country with whose government he
is not in sympathy, and where, inso-
far as he expresses his convictions,
he is a detriment to the government
and a nuisance to his friends, Is a
strange puzzle.
Let Mr.. C. Bolte suppose a situa-
ton:
Place him in Germany where he is
engaged in helping his own govern
ment as he would have q perfect
right to do, either as censor or pub
licity agent, and let me, an American
resident of Germany, send him a mes
sage similar to the one he sent me.
Is there any doubt as to what would
happen to me in a very short order /?
The same thing ought to happen to
Mr. c. Bolte here, and If we were
as vigilant as German officials are,
it would happen to him.
We have been too lax, too tolerant
with acts verging on conspiracy. and
now we are suffering. We have so
long good naturally overlooked acts
which in Germany would be consid-
cred reasonable, that our leniency
has brought US into contempt abroad.
From the start / have stood for
courtesy and kindness toward our
German neighbors and friends. do
now. And why not? I have no per.
sonal bitterness or ill-wiil. Also to-
ward alien Germans who live here,
obey the spirit and letter of the law;
sober, sensible, intelligently comport-
ing themselves according to Ameri-
can requirements, not indulging in
any form Of hostility toward our gov
eminent or its citizenry.
But as an American, uncommis-
stoned and unpaid except by the Joy
Of duty, mean to stand for Ameri-
can ideals and measures, and not for
German sophistries. .~.....
Moreover, Mr.. C. Bolte has been
here long enough to know the duties
of an American citizen, as web as
those of German In America.
The best Germans in America have
condemned and condemn Prussianisnl,
and at this very time in Germany it.
self, militarism is being tried In the
balance. Men like DR.. Hoffman In
New York, Mr.. Hagens In Honolulu
and others elsewhere, though Of Ger
man birth, do not approve Of official
Germanisn. Like Carl Schurz was.
they are: Americans In truth as well
as in name. Such Americans have
become citizens not for mercenary
purposes, although they have the de-
cency to be grateful in word and
deed to the country whose advantages
have enabled them to make their
money, and establish social and com.
munity. interests. -. ..,.. D.. - .. =.
/ have no doubt at all that as a
loyal subject Ia Germany, Mr.. c.
Bolte could at this time Of peril
there be more useful than he is here.
He would have a right to express
himself and to act for his govern,
ment, for we are told that house
divided against itself cannot stand,
and that a man cannot serve two
masters. sgs Z. NJ =.
l am afraid that Mr.. Bottle is try
ing to serve two masters, and as a
consequence, he is making himself
anomalous and irrelevant.
e. s. GoOpHUE.