Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1917-04-20
GERMAN AMERICAN THOUGHT
ON AMERICA AT WAR
Based On Comment On the Presidents
War Message to Congress.

Unequivoca1 loyalty is the keynote
of the articles in the German Ameri-
can press on the Presidents war-mes-
sage to Congress. It is true, however,
that some of the mouthpieces of Ger
man-American opinion exercise a dis
Greet reticence and confine their e IL
torial remarks to subjects germane to
the issue, SUCH for example, as tne
attitude Of organized labor to univeT-
sal service thus avoiding a direct
discussion of the message, says the
Literary Digest. AS fiat-footed
America first stand the attitude of
the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung would
be hard to beat. Prominently dis
Played upon it's front page we find
this:
THE President has placed the issue
of peace or war directly before the
Congress Upon the action of this
high court depends the future course
of the American nation
THE Congress speaks for all Amer
leans regardless of party or race. The
Staats-Zeitung will support Loyalty
any action taken by the representa-
tives of the people"
Continuing the discussion under the
heading. AT the Thresold of War"
the Staats-Zeitung says:
The address of the President de-
handing a full and complete warfare
against the German Imperial Govern
ment will come as a shock to millions
The steps leading to the present crisis
have been taken during a period of
over two years, but the actually will,
nevertheless, occa sion painful sur
prize.
1--WE are to be one of the Allies in
fact as well as in name. The ire
mendous resources of the nation are
to be modified and thrown into the
scale against the Imperial Govern
ment.
THE President need have no con-
Germ as to the loyalty of Americans of
German ancestry. That question has
been answered definitely and finally;
The country has recognized, and will
continue to recognize, that fact"
The influential st. Louis Westiiche
Post is equally emphatic:
"One point in the Presidents mes
sage is significant. War should be
made against only the German Empire
and not against it's allies. Because of
this, diplomatic relations with Austria
Hungary. Turkey, and Bulgaria remain
| unbroken, a state of affairs which
presents the only hope Of a peaceful
adjustment. Therecan exist no doubt
over the standing of American citizens
of German extraction. Where we stand
has been ably set forth by the honored
veteran, Major Carl Lenz, who was
crippled for life in the Civil War, when
he told the Mayor of Newark: THE
Communications do not have to
steadily shown themselves to be true
and dutiful citizens; with their blood
they have helped to build and upheld
the nation"
ton to recognize a citizens duty and
to do it. Thus the Volksblatt says:
I'VE agree with the President that
war exists between the United States
and Germany, and that all the citizens
must comply with the duties arising
out of the state of war. All other
statements in the Presidents speech
we disapprove and reject"
The Cincinnati Freie Presse writes:
Whatever may happen. our country
shall have no better guardian of its
internal peace than the American Cit
iZen of German parentage. The nation
rishtfully expects us to know our duty,
and we must and will prove. that we
are determined. as all true, faithful,
and honest citizens should be, not to
deviate one hairs breadth from -he
narrow path that our duty and our
conscience point out to US to walk"
The Freie Presse heaves a sigh OF
relief that the President has so de
fined Americas attitude that German
Americans can continue to hate Eng
land as much as they please:
The war that the United States
may lead against Germany has moth
ing in common with the objects for
which England and her Allies are fight
ing. If we should enter the war we
will not go in for conquest. For this
reason we shall not be compelled to
change our sentiments toward Eng
land il we wish to avoid a conflict
with our duties as American citizens
But we stand and fall with the land
of our choice. The welfare of our
adopted country Is sacred to us, and
to guard our internal peace Is our
duty"
Interesting opinions as to the polit-
ica1 results that may folio win Ger
many from Americas participation are
exprest by the New York Herold,
which says:
There are two features In the Pres
idenfs address that are especially
noteworthy. In the first place, he de-