The Redwood gazette., 1917-04-11
THE DUTY OF AMERICANS OF
GERMAN BIRTH.
F.. l.. Hoffman. in New York Evening Pc

F L. Hoffman in New York Evening Post.
DORN in Germany, have for more than
X thirty years been resident OF this
- country and for twenty-five years
citizen thereof. The oath of allegiance
requires "THE SUPPORT OF THE CON
STITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE REMUNERATION AND ABB
DURATION OF ALL ALLEGIANCE AND
FIDELITY TO EVERY FOREIGN
PRINCE, POTENTATE, STATE OR SOW
EREIGNTY, WHATSOEVER" This oath
is binding upon millions of Americans OF
German birth, who are today confronted
bv crisis which demands actions and not
words. They are called upon to square
their conduct with their oath OF aiiegl-
ance and to prove themselves worthy OF
the priceless privilege of American citi-
zenship in behalf of the cause OF national
defense against foreign foe. 1t IS the
tragedy of history that by wanton acts OF
deliberate aggression against the llves ana
property of American citizens and the
crowning infamy of conspiracy against
our territorial integrity, the German gov
ernment should have forfeited our conn
dence and goodwill. 1t is, therefore, ob-
vously the patriotic duty OF every Ainefl-
can of German birth to render the fullest
measure of unconditional loyalty to the
national cause and whatever active ASSIST
ance may be essential to the attainment
of a final victory which shall guarantee
to the world lasting peace The duty OF
the hour is unequivocal, and 1t is tor eacn
and every one of foreign birth to prove
that oaths of allegiance are not meaning
less and that their application to Amerl-
can citizenship can be effectively visual
L. of
The LOYALTY of Americans of German
birth includes the duty, however trying,
of active resistance against any and ev-
ery foe of the American republic, inciud-
ing the government of their native coun-
try, specifically and Internationally re-
nounced in the solemn obligation to pro-
tect and preserve the government of the
United States By it's own deliberate and
wrongful policy of Indifference to inter-
national law and treaty obligations, the
German government has forfeited the
good faith and confidence of the Western
world. By insidious methods and means
it has attempted to SOW the seeds OF dis
loyalty and discomfort among our foreign
born element, while still maintaining dip
lomatic and friendly relations with the
government and the people of the United
States. There could not possibly be more
humiliating admission than this, involv-
ing the national integrity Of truly great
people, but the facts are beyond contro-
versy, and it is the truth alone that can
make US free It is for Americans of Ger
man birth and ancestry to do even more
than their required share in behalf Of the
national cause, so that the worlds vanish
ing faith in German honor may be re-
deemed by those who hold themselves to
be accountable only to the Supreme Being
and the government and the people of
their adopted country. The world is not
at war with the German people but with
the German government and it's ruthless
and ill-considered military policy, without
a parallel in modern history.
The German element, by common con-
sent, has rendered substantial services in
the national struggle for independence, in
the second war against England, and in
the war for the preservation of the Union,
and it will not be found wanting in the
present crisis, which concerns the future
destiny of mankind for all time to come.
In a large measure the Germans of this
country have shared in the most arduous
labor of converting continental wilder
ness into an earthly paradise, and they