New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-09
German-Americans in Line

The German-American National ALI
ance has passed resolutions pledging its
services to the government in case we go
to war with Germany. It has done more.
1t has approved the dismissal of Ambas-
sador Won Bernstorff and the recall of Am
bassador Gerard This is not case of
saying with Decatur: my country, right
or wrong" 1t is a case of deliberately
affirming the righteousness Of this coun-
try's cause.
The Tribune never doubted the loyalty
and fidelity of Americans of German de-
scent. America has been served faithfully
and honorably by her citizens of German
ancestry. They have fought CALAMITY in
all our wars and have labored zealously
for the country's advancement In time OF
peace. There has been no good reason for
doubling their course when the time came
for them to choose between duty to their
adopted country and the ties of affection
and sympathy which bound them to their
kindred across the sea.
American citizens of British or French
or Italian descent would have made the
same choice, if by any chance the United
States had become involved to the point
of rupture in a dispute with the Entente
powers over American rights on the seas
We are all Americans first when the pinch
comes. Our homes are here; our futur>
is here; those of foreign birth who have
become naturalized have done so of their
own free will and because they preferred
to cast their lots with ours and to take
part in the great experiment in democracy
which we are making.
Ours is a country of many strains and
races. But it is the country of all Of US
of all the creeds, nationalities and group
ings which have gone into the melting pot.
Each Of them will have its influence in
giving the nation the character which 1t
will have when it becomes a finished prod
uct. Our destiny is in the hands OF all,
and all should feel that they have an I'M
challenged share in the great work OF i'm
pressing some ultimate stamp OF national
ity on the United States.
apprehension about the willingness of Ger
man-Americans, tro-Americans, Hun
garian-A Americans or any other hyphen-
ated group of Americans (hyphenated for
convenience to put America first when
ever America should come into collision
with some European power or group of
powers. While our status was that of a
neutral, divisions of opinion as to the rights
and wrongs Of the war in Europe we're
inevitable. Sympathies were divided. 1t
would have been extraordinary if they had
not been divided.
But now the time for divisions of opin-
ion and sympathy has passed. We have
but one loyalty and one flag. We have a
common interest and common future. We
shall all be poorer in repute and pride,
more hampered in life, liberty and the pur
suit of happiness, if we fail now to main
tain the rights which we have asserted
which even the feeble, sparsely populated
and commercially Frustrated United States
OF Madison's time boldly asserted against
Great Britain-then overwhelmingly SUI
perior to US in military and naval strength.
The German American National ALI
ance has put patriotism above racial and
cultural sympathies. It has risen to the
occasion worthily and honorably. 1t de-
serves unlimited credit for stamping out
the base suspicion that American citizens
of German descent might be tempted to-
subordinate their natural allegiance TO the
United States to shadowy emotional al
legiance TO the Kaiser and to the land of
their fathers.
Let all other Americans give these Ger
n-Americans their due. Let us honor
them for their unrudging Americanism
Let as cooperate with them in maintain
ing American rights and laboring for thai
united, truly nationalized America which
is the hope Of the future.