The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-26
NONE MAY SH|RK DUTY
Otto H. Kahn, New York Banker
Has Message for Former
Countrymen in u. s.
OBLIGATION MORE PLAIN
> BECAUSE HERE BY CHOICE
49,, Ut - = = 4, &2a%, st..
Deliberately Chose to Enjoy Bene-
fits Of Adopted Land; Must
~ Share Burdens

Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 26-Urglng
Americans CT German descent Ito Join
in our country's righteous struggle
against people Of their own btool.
which, under the evil spell OF a dread
full 'obession has made itself the en-
envy of this peace.loving nation" o.
to H. Kahn, banker, of New York, be-
fore the Harrisburg CHAMBER OF Cons
merce, today pleaded for support OF
the war policy OF the administration
at Washington.
Scoring that Prussianism, which, he
said, with profound cunning has in
stilled into Germany the demoniacal
obession Of pOwer-worship and world
dominion" Mr.. Kahn traced the meth
DDS by which, he said, the Teutonic
people have been systematically pois-
oned by the Prussian ruling caste x
''The world feyerishly longs for
peace. But there can be no peace
answering to the true meaning OF the
word, no peace permitting the nations
of the earth, great and small, to walk
unarmed and unafraid, until the teach.
ing and the leadership of the apostles
Of an outlaw creed shall have '5ecome
discredited and hateful in the sight
of the German people.
"Woe to the German-American, SO
called, who in this sacred war for a
cause as high as any for which ever
people took up arms, does not feel a
solemn urge, does not show an eager
determination to be in the very fore
front of the struggle, does not prove
a patriotic jealousy, in thought, in &C.
ton and in speech, to rival and to
outdo his native.born fellow-citizen In
devotion and in willing sacrifice for
the country of his choice and adoption
and sworn allegiance and OF their
common affection and pride.
B, "He who shirks the full measure of
his duty and allegiance in that mob
lest of causes, be he German Ameri-
can, Irish-American, or any other
hyphenated American, be he 1. W. W..
or socialist or whatever other appel
lation, does not deserve to stand
among Americans or indeed among
free men anywhere.
"He who, secretly or overly, tries
to thwart the declared will and aim OF
the nation in this holy war, is a trait
or, and a traitors fate should be his"
THE duty OF loyal allegiance and
faithful service to his country, even
unto death, rests, of course, upon
every American.
They More Than Any Other.
"Dut, if it be possible to speak OF
a comparative degree concerning
what is the highest as it is the most
elementary attribute of citizenship,
that duty may almost he said to rest
with an even more solemn and COM
polling obligation upon Americans OF
foreign origin than upon native Amer.
leans.
Here, Of Own Will. "
For, we Americans of foreign an
tecedelts, are here not by the acct
dental right of birth, but by our own
free choice for better or for worse.
1--WE are your fellow citizens be
cause you accepted our oath of alleg
lance as given in good faith, and be
cause you have opened to us in gen
erous trust the portals of American
opportunity and freedom, and hav'
admitted us to membership in TIL
family of Americans, giving us equa
rights in the great Inheritance which
has been created by the blood and thu
toll of your ancestors, asking nothing
from us in return but decent citizen
ship and adherence to those ideal!
and principles which are symoolizet
by the glorious flag of America.
l. History Repeated.
Gas Washington led Americans o
British blood to fight against Grea
Britain. as Lincoln called upon Amer
leans of the north to fight their yer!
brothers Of the south, so Americana
of German descent are now summon
ed to join in our country's righteous
struggle against people of their OWL
blood which, under the evil spell of
dreadful obession, and, HEAVIER
knows, through no fault of ours, ha
made itself the enemy OF this peace
loving nation, as it is the enemy o
peace and right and freedom through
ont the world.
i "To. gain Americas independence
to defeat oppression and tyranny, wa
indeed to gain a great cause.