New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-12
THE IGNORANCE OF PAclFlsrs
Forging Chains for Our Country BY Thei,
Blindness Toward German Aim,
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: Is the ignorance Of the paciAst lad
ers so dense that they know nothing Of A.
spirit that gives force and energy 70 ~,
German philosophy of militarsm and STAT.
craft?
Do they know nothing of the we'll matur,,
plans of the Prussisn monarchy to nd,
roughshod over the world, reduce ciyiliz,to.
TO condition OF vassalage, impose the,
barbaric will upon humanity and construe,
a caste system of universal slavery, subise,
TO no rule, human or divine, save the will A.
their own military masters? Is this no,
their past and present policy in their in,s,.
nal government OF the German and Austris,
masses to-day!
Are they unaware that the Hohenzollen
dynasty has propagated through its educ.
tional institutions a materiallstic philosops,
which is the very sntthesis OF demoeraey
and Christianity?
Are they converssnt with the fact that II /,
this system of education TO which the Ger
man so proudly refers when he speaks Of
German kultur"? Some OF them may have
heard of German culture, but where is the
pacifst who really knows anything about il,
| Do they know that this so-called "kultGrr is
system of immoral ethics, blasphemOus Be.
yond belief, code to govern individual and
social action on the plane Of the morality Of
| the barnyard?
If they do not, il is about time that thew
/ educate themselves before they essay The
role of instructor and guide to the Amerisss
| people.
/ The true American loves honor and peace
: far more than the pacifst can, but, unlike
! the latter, he has the moral courage and
spiritual fortitude 10 battle for the American
( flag and the ideals of this Republic
Do the pacifsts realize that their propa.
ganda cannot prevent the coming eonaie.
/ between the United States and Germany
and only tends to paralyze and oenumb the
spirit Of patriotism? Americans are amazed
| by the manifest apathy of the average cit.
| zen in this hour of our national crisis. The5
are asking themselves and others some very
serious questions, and attribute 10 the psci.
fists the responsibility for The following line
of queries:
What has become of our traditions,
Where is the spirit Of Colonial days7 VIA.
has happened TO the ideals and achievements
of our forefathers? Where is the pride and
glory of the Star-Spangled Banner we were
taught in youth TO reverence as the emblem
and ensign Of freedom, the sign and signal
of American liberty? What has become Of
the lesson the flag was 10 teach to the down
trodden OF the earth? Was IL not light
and beacon of hope to the oppressed and
enslaved of all other lands?
Did we not unfurl it before the eyes Of
all tyrants and proclaim the doctrine ths,
, "despotism anywhere is a menace 70 liberty
eyerywhere"7 Did we not declare its red
bars were testimony OF the sacred blood
shed for the inalienable rights OF man.
It's azure blue as the heayen-oorn aspr'
tions of the soul? It's white stars and stripes
as the purity of the principles for which or'
patriots bled and died, and gladly yielded sp
their lives that we may live, and all pos.
terity be glad to call themselves American
When this emblazoned banner proudly
! Hoated over every sea it was the herald o.
"peace on earth, good will to men" il BE-
smoke in mute a soundless sound, thE
flashed in every despot's mind its porter
and its meaning, Respect me lest u
perish"
The pacifsts are forging chains OK bond
age, and if not estopped may some day Dc
dancing to the music of their clanking
ALBERT DuLE
Washington, Jan. 81, 1917.