Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-01

This statement, secured by a secret
service operative from George c. Muel-
ler,.a well-to-do and well known farm
or OF Edgington township, at the Rock
Island postoflice building last Tuesday
afternoon, carried with it more force
and effect than would have been ac-
complished by court procedure with
its attendant suspense, delay and un-
certainty in results attributable either
TO technical evasion OF INSCRIPTIONS
obstruction of the course of Justice.
Mr. Mueller's statement, signed i'm the
presence OF witnesses, involves both
confession and contritiOn and a plea
for forgiveness. Altogether il is "a
solemn warning to others within our
borders who may speal, hastily, Wheth-
er through passion or iii will OF the
greatest government on eaTth-or its
president-in time OF war.
The government Of the United States
has never been actuated by revenge
or desire for retrihution in It's deal
ings with its enemies II has never
been brutal in Furnishing those who
have offended against its laws and its
institutions. II has punished, not for
the sake of Furnishing, but for the eff
feet. Being Of the people. it has been
az merciful as il has been just, for
the sake of the people.
Dealing with a peculiar situation
that has grown up in this country,
but which happily, is fast disappear
ing. and involving the loyalty of the
people Of another nation who have
come here for refuge and have found
that refuge hut who, nevertheless. to
some extent. have proven that they
left their hearts in the land from
which they fed 10 freedoms shores
II has been disposed 10 look with pity
rather than wrath upon shameless eX-
amples OF lngratitudc bordering upon
treason. Sadly it has been forced to
realization that for it's own sake as
government Of all peoples who are
here, and who may Vet come 10 must
deal sternly with those who, ina its
hour OF trial, fail TO ring true
VI there are those who NAV be
brought to their senses as Mr.. Mueller
was, and who are willing to make rep
aration and public apology for I'M
guarded and disrespectful language
as applied either to the nation or the
head OF the nation, with the promise
not to repeat the ohense. so much the
better for all concerned for. as said
before, vengeance is not of the United
States OF America and it can forgive.
II has taken a little time to learn
that there are those here under free
dom's banner who are faithless to that
banner. despite the fact that il has
sheltered them and that under its
folds they have cOntentment and pros
perlty, and, above all. emancipation
from oppression. The government has
come 10 feel that II, out of the inmost
feelings OF those who have been so
favored. il can find no responsive
chord. no better angel TO which to
appeal, and that there still turks a
fondness for former allegiance
stronger than that which should bind
them here, then there is but one course
TO pursue, and that is compuIsion
Heart ard disposition cannot always
be changed, but mans manner may
be controlled by the rules Of the So
ciety in which he moves. and if by
nature he is so constituted that he
cannot conduct himself according to
the rules governing the people Of
whom he should be part. he must be
made to suffer the cOnsequences-or
seek those associations that are more
congenial to his ideals.
\ pro-German who. in time OF war.
insults the president of the country
that is harboring him, knows full well
what would happen TO him If he in
suited the kaiser of the country he
loves better, even in time OF peace
and these pro-Gernians. il has been
found, as rule. know good deal
more about the country they left. or
their forefathers left In search of bet
ter conditions, than they do about the
country TO which they came
America opens her arms to all the
world, and to the oppressed of al
peoples. and all she asks 0f those who
come. is loyalty BE true 70 me -
she says, and with those who cannot
accept with grateful heart this mes
sage. the people who make up Amer
lea are capable OF dealing and will
daul