Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-03-25

Mayors mean and base attack upon
Senator Wagner is the implication
that an American citizen who has
German blood in his veins is there
fore to be suspected of being a secrot
traitor to America.
We see this same mean and cow.
ardly propaganda constantly spread
by untrutnful newspapers and un-
truthful speakers. AS far as lies in
their power, these propagandists are
deliberately at work to ALLEVIATE the
loyalty Of all American citizens of
German descent, and by every form
of abuse, falsehood and insinuation
to create suspicion and division
among our people.
We should think these fools could
see what a dreadful disaster to our
country the success Of their efforts
would be.
What better service could be rem
dered the German Government, if
we go to war, than the alienation OF
the affection and loyalty which Ger
man-Amercans entertain for Amer
lea? Every word Of abuse, every
suggestion Of suspicion and hatred
directed at the twelve millions Of our
people who have German blood in
their veins is treason, and wicked
II eason, to the best interests Of
America.
We should be thankful for moth
ing else more than the exemplary
patience and admirable good sense
with which our fellow citizens of
German descent have endured the
torrents Of shameful and lying abuse
and provocation and taunts poured
on their heads by senseless news
papers and detestable demagogues.
NO class of people ever before
maintained such almost universal
loyalty and such almost universal
decency of speech and behavior as
have the millions of our fellow citi-
zens who have endured the unpatri-
otto, cowardly and shameful abuse
heaped upon these Americans of
German descent by dastards and
fools.
1t seems to us that anybody, not
hopeless idiot ought to be able 10
see that every effort to discourage
the loyalty and abate the devotion
of this huge body Of citizens, num-
bering 0ne-fourth of our available
fighting men, is blow straight at
the heart of the national defense
and the national safety.
If common sense cannot halt these
ounces who are doing their worst to
divide our citizenship and fatally
weaken our strength before we even
begin to fight, then the universal
reprObation of men who have good
sense should choke off these propa-
gandists of suspicion, slander, hatred
and treason.
A German fleet off our coasts and
q German army landing on our
shores would not be half SO dis
astrous as a domestic campaign that
would SOW discord and division at
home, and drive millions Of our citi-
2ens into a sullen state Of mind to-
ward the nations defense
The men and newspapers that are
spreading this propaganda are do
ing fatally mischieyous work.
They could not injure their coun-
try one-tenth SO much If they all
took arms against her and shot at
their own flag and their own peoplei
1t Is indeed a serious state Of af-
fairs when the executive head OF the
chief city OF the United states can
lend his official prestige to this dan
gerpus and disloyal work and can
stoop to the low politics of using this
propaganda to bring a loyal and
faithful citizen and public servant
such as Senator Wagner is-under
the suspicion and the hatred of the
timid and the feeble-minded
We protest against this sort of
thing in the name OF public decency
and public safety.
1t is as reasonable to the nations
defense as it is repugnant to truth
and to fair play, and abhorrent to
men of sense, courage and loyalty.
Let us have done with this im-
becility and moral treason.