The Washington herald., 1917-12-28


Germans OF this country are made to
subscribe to the Red Cross and kiss
our flag and do other patriotic things.
Congress has been asked, in fact. to
enact some legislation which might
protect people from these 'indigni-
ties
There need be no fear on the part of
patriots. however, that such legislation
will ever be forthcoming. Congress is
in thorough sympathy with these I'm
diGnities," il they be such. If Ger
mans in this country cannot be loyal
enough to do patriotic things here
without being forced to do so, Con-
gress will not protect them from the
very just indignation of their neigh
bors.
The hope OF some Of these "out-
ragged beings was that Congress
would see that such things as they
complain of typfy a government OF
force-and that a government OF force.
and by force. is not a democracy.
Hero the Germans err egregiously,
however. All governments are govern
ments of force. This is just s true
in democracy as in the most rabid au-
tocracy.
The difference comes in the character
OF the force. In demoCracies the force
is the people and the guiding principle
is the strict adherence Of all govern
mental arms to the course that bene-
fits the people.
In autocracics the force is Of mon
archical derivation. The masses are
subordinated to the classes any
thing. no matter how much out Of
accord it may be with the views of
the vast majority. may be forced
upon an autocracy so long as the
divine heads will it.
Congress is quite ready to protect
| out citizens when protection is due
! them, under the rules of justice and
| humanity. But there Is no injustice.
the members believe, in compelling
the men of too friendly turn toward
| the Kaiser to do things which to them
are distasteful. If these so-called
citizens have such a regard for their
Kaiser, and IL they do not feel that
they can subscribe to the doctrines
which this county has made funde-
meantal, Congress considers they can
| do one thing and do 1t quickly-they
can return TO the land they love, and
| back It in the battle which it is now
| having.
II they elect to remain here they
must back our land in its side of the
battle. There is no argument on this
| point Congress will not tolerate an
argument at this stage. Tho German
citizens here must do this or bear the
penalty imposed upon those guilty OF
treachery.
Interesting English letters tell OF
| tba yar,, opparepk obiortiop NJ fba
men in the trenches to other men rum
ming many war matters at great dis
tance from where the guns are roaring
and the hand grenades are being
hurled.
The suggestion Is made that every
governmental department should be
crowded with men taken from the
huge representation Of warriors Eng
land now has. The suggestions have
been discussed on this side of the
water with great interest, because the
time is not far OF when this country
will experience similar suggestions.
Congressional members feel that there
is opportunity for the display of quite
as much skill and quite as much pa
triotism in the halls Of Congress as
on the battlefields at this time.
They feel, In other words, that the
art of craftsmanship Is not an antique
art by any means and that to perfect
itself in it our Nation has to train men
for years and years by sending them
to Congress for several terms. And
the belief is that the art of warmak-
ing Is distinct from the art of making
laws and moulding our international
relations. Hence the belief prevails
rather generally in Congress that 1t
would be a mistake to load Congress
down too heavily with men whose first
claim to renown came from the battle
field rather than from the forum.
Congress would be expected to feel
this way quite naturally. But apart
from the selfish consideration-which
we trust no member feels to the exclu-
sion Of all other considerations-it is
a fact that the members believe they
have work which can contribute
effectively to the war and to its set
tlement and to the maintenance of our
relations after peace returns to the
earth. The general public, We believe,
will acquiesce in this. providing the
work Of Congress is constantly along
patriotic Lines and tsndins always to