Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-12-21
MR.. BUNGFS ADDRESS

We had reason to be proud of Rev.
Richard Bunge, Normalite, on 10y
atty Day. Mr.. Bunge delivered an
address at Aldrich park, as repre-
sentative of the German born resi-
dents of Aberdeen and vicinity. These
few words won a great deal of ap-
! plause from the thousands of Aber-
deem people assembled at the park
on this occasion. The Exponent takes
pleasure in printing below the re-
marks of Mr.. Bunge:
"My friends, l speak to you today
as the representative of the German
element in our city, an element which
is looked upon in these trying times
with a great deal of apprehension
and, in some places, with distrust.
Our cradle has stood in the country
which is now at war with US, and in
the world war our sympathies have
thus far clearly and unanimously
been on the side of the Germans. We
have also done everything in our
power to avoid war for the United |
States, not only because war is al
ways horrible tragedy, but also be- |
cause we shrank back from fighting
against our own dear Fatherland.
"Yet, now that, after careful con-
sideration of our government, the ne
cessity has come for US, our position
is clearly on the side of the govern
nent which we have chosen for our
selves and for our children, swearing
off all allegiance to the government
of our childhood days. We know why
we left the old country and chose the
new. Here we are enjoying, in the
light of liberty, untold opportunities
which we could not have had in Ger
many. 1t is to this country, there
fore, that we have pledged our lives
and fortunes to protect it from any
danger from without. And we shall
not fail in this sacred duty, in these
most trying days
"It is by Divine ordinance that g
man leaves his father and his mother
and cleaves unto his wife. May come
what will he will never leave her. Co
lumbia, the Gem of the Ocean, is oul
choice. To her our heart belongs frs
and last. There may be question il
our mind if she is always right, ant
as long as there is an opportunity t.
change her course we have not only
the perfect constitutional right bu
also the sacred duty to share in tht
responsibility to set her right as he
citizens, but this has it's limits. 4
time comes when all responsibilit,
must be left to the ones who ar
chosen to execute it and who are il
the best position to do so. Then al
criticisms must stop, not only il
words but even in the hearts. TIL
necessity demands fully united ma
ton. Our warnings have bee
sounded, our prayers for an avoidanc
of the war have been uttered. w
have done what we could to retail
peace. It was not so to be. Nov
it is our plain duty to follow will
ingly the orders of our governmen
unitedly and unreservedly.
"This war is a struggle for tn
survival of the best and highest prin
ciples that govern the lives of human
lty. We trust that under God thi
end will be brought about. 1t is
sad fact that in this imperfect worl
it cannot be done without terribl
struggles and the loss of much nobl
life. The story of true civilization
and always has been story of
resurrection of new life from tn
graves of the crucifed. Yet we hay
signs that in this most awful wa
a the hearts of the combatants are nc
: filled as of old with personal hatred
< When hostile groups in the trenche
f can stop fighting in order to hel
r each other out with refreshments, o
} when the English can, at the DANCE
s Of their lives, drop wreath for tn
s dead hero who destroys fortytwo Q
5 their airships, we learn that even lov
I and admiration can fill our hearts fo
> those of whom the sad fate has mad
. opponents until death.
"My friends and countrymen, eve
these dark clouds will pass. Thel
> after our loyalty has been tried an
s proven in the purging times of thi
10 war, let US hope that not only W
8 shall be more closely united with OF
/. deaE countrymen, but that also
warmer and more lasting apprecis
7 ton will be found among them fc
the noble stock from which we come