Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-11-16
By Otto Kahn.

This nation Is united In pursuance
of a high purpose, purpose which at
this fateful moment is one and the
same wherever. thruout the world,
the language Of free men Is spoken
and understood.
1t is the purpose of common de-
termination to fight and to bear and
to dare everything and never to cease
nor rest until the accursed thing
which has brought upon the world
the unutterable calamity, the devils
visitation Of this appalling war, is de-
stroyed beyond all possibility of res
direction.
That accursed thing is not ma
ton, but an evil spirit, spirit which
has made the Government possessed
by it and executing its abhorrent and
bloody bidding an abomination In the
sight of God and men.
What we are now contending for
by the side of our splendidly brave
and sorely tried comrades in arms,
after infinite forbearance, after de-
Law which many of us found ii hard
to bear, are the things which are
amongst the highest and most cher
ished that the civilized world has at
tanned through the toll, sacrifices,
and suffering of its best in the course
of many centuries
They are the things without which
darkness would fall upon hope and
life would become intolerabTe.
They are the things of humanity
liberty, justice, and mercy. for which
the men amongst all the nations-in-
GLIDING the German nation-have
fought and bled these many genera
lions past, which were the ideals OF
he
host of others who had made the
name Of Germany great and beloved
until fanatical Prussianism, run a
muck, came to make its deeds by
word and a Kissing.
This appalling conflict which ha'
been drenching the world with blood
is not a mere fight of one or more peo
pies against one or more other peo
pies.
1t gees far deeper.
1t sharply divides the soul and con
science of the world
1t transcends vastly the bounds o
racial allegiance.
1t is ethically fundamental.
wards it, the time has gone by-if i
ever was-when race and blood an,
inherited Affiliations were permitte,
to count.
A century and half ago Ameri
cans of English birth rose to free thi
country from the oppression of tn
rulers of England To-day Ameri
cans of German birth ere called upol
to rise, together with their fellow cit
liens of all races, to free not onl
this country but the whole worl
from the oppression of the rulers
Germany. an opposition far less cap
af hot nf
graver portent
Speaking. as one born of Germa
parents. ] do not hesitate to state
as my deep conviction, that the great
est service which men of Germa
birth or antecede nts can render to III
country of their origin is to proclaim
and stand up for those great and fin
ideals and national qualities and trs
ditions which they inherited frol
their ancestors. and to set their face
like flint against the monstrous Got
trines and acts of a rulership whic
has robbed them Of the German
which they loved and in which the
took just pride. the Germany whic
had the good will. re poet and admit
alton of the entire world
/ do not hesitate to state it as m
solemn conviction that the more III
mistakably ard wholeheartedl
Americans of German origin thro
themselves into the struggle whif
this country has entered in order
rescue Germany, no less than Amer
ca and the rest of the world, fro
those sinister forces that are, in Pre-
ident Wilson's language. the enen
of all mankind. the better they pr
tect and serve the repute of the o
German name and the true advanta'
of the German people.
! measure my words. They a
borne out all too emphatically by 4
hideous eloquence of deeds whi'
have appalled, the conscience of L
civilized world. They are bone q
by numberless expressions, WRIT
and spoken, of German professors nl
ployed by the State to teach
youth.
The burden of that teaching is tn
might makes right, and that the CT
man nation has been chosen 10 ex'
else morally. mentally. and aetna
the overlordship of the world a
must and will accomplish that ia
and that destiny whatever the cost
bloodshed, misery. and ruin.
The spirit of that teaching lies
it's intolerance. its mixture of sane
moniousness and covetousness and
self-righteous assumption of wor
improving mission. II is closely al
to the spirit from which were bl
the wars of the past through the 10
and dark years when feudal tactic
killed one another and devastated
rope.
] speak in sorrow. for am spec
ing Of the country Of my origin an
have not forgotten what ] owe II.
am speaking in bitter disappoi
ment. for ] am thinking of the G
~oopy ~ former dpye the Germs