Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1917-05-08
German Citizen of Chicago
Explains His Attitude
With Ample Reasons
WRITTEN BEFORE WAR
Loves the Fatherland But Not
Junkers. United States
Is His Country

The following letter recently pub
lished in the Chicago Tribune from a
German Citizen is we'll worth repro
duction because it truthfully repre-
sents the mind of hundreds of thous
ands of German-Americans at this
time:
The Editor. Tribune: My emotions
tell me one thing at this awful time,
but my reason tells me other things.
AS German by birth it is a horrible
calamity that l may have to fight Ger
mans. That is natural, is it not So?
But as an American by preference
can see no other course open.
We are urged by sincere pacifists
like Mr.. Pinchot to adopt vigorous
policy of defense and protection, but
no war; But attack is sometimes the
best protection.
For 25 years Germany has shown
dislike for the United States-the
Samoan affair, the Hongkong contre-
temps, the Minila bay incident, the un-
guarded words of the kaiser himself,
and, lastly, the Haitian controversy in
1914.
Whether it is right or not, pleasant
or not, the fact remains that the in
terests of the two countries have fire.
quently conflicted. And it has not
been from mere commercial or dip
lomatic friction. 1t is because their
ideals of government are absolutely
opposite. One or the other must go
down. 1t is for us to say now which
it shall be.
Because of my birth and feeling be-
yond my control I have no particular
love for the French and less for the
British. But by a strange irony of
fate l see those nations giving their
blood for principles which hold dear,
against the wrong principles of people
l individually love.
1t is a very unhappy paradox, but
one l can not escape. l do not want
to see the allies triumph over the land
of my birth. But do very much want
to see the triumph of the ideas they
fight for.
1t sickens my soul to think of this
nation going forth to help destroy peo-
pie many of whom are bound to me
by ties of blood and friendship. But
it must be so. 1t is like a dreadful
surgical operation. The militaristic,
undemocratic demon which ules Ger
many must be cast out. 1t is for us
to do it-now.
try to tell myself that it is not our
affair that we should content our
selves with measures of defense and
armed neutrality. But | know that it
is not so.
The mailed fist has been shaken un-
der our nose before. If Prussianism
triumphs in this war the fist will con-
tinue to shake. We shall be in real
peril and those ideas for which so
much of the worlds best blood has
been spilled through the centuries will
be in danger of extinction. 1t seems
to me common sense that we resign
our defense by immediate attack,
when the demon is occupied and when
we can command assistance
There is much talk of what people
like me will do, and fear of the hy-
phen. Mr.. Wilson by his hesitancy
and vicillation shows that he doubts
the solidarity of the nation.
But l think the nation is only crop
ing for leadership. If the president
would realize the value of positive ac-
ton he could bring all the people into
unity at once. A ringing declaration
of war, with calm statement that we
enter the struggle to save and
strengthen the institutions upon which
out state is built, would at once bring
all the conflicting emotions of our
people into patriotic unity Then all
foolish notions Of copperheads and
traitors would seem merely a bad
dream.
In conclusion I wish to compliment
the Tribune because it is positive in
it's thought but reasonable, not yield
ing to the empty wickedness of hate
| fulness.
Let us make war upon Germany, not
from revenge, nor to uphold hair split
ting bubbles Of international law. But
let us make war with our whole heart
and with all our strength because Ger
meny worships one God and We an
other and because the lion and the
lamb can not lie down together. One
or the other must perish.
| Let us make war upon the Germany