Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-03-31


and to plunge our country into this
terrible war, as the ally of either one
Of the belligerent groups?
1t is very evident by this time that
the extreme war propagandists are
not thinking of America at all, but
are thinking of Europe.
They are not concerned about
American rights and American
wrongs, it is easy to see, because they
never manifest the slightest resent
ment toward any wrongs committed
upon Americans or any insults in
ficted upon our flag and our sover-
eighty by the European Power to
which they have given their affections
and, it would almost seem, their first
allegiance.
II they happen to be partisans Of
Germany, they excuse even the Lusl-
tania massacre, uphold the sinking
of our ships by submarines.
And If they happen to be partisans
of England, they excuse the mining
of the open seas, the blockade of neu-
tral nations, the rifling of neutral
mails and the crowning insult of for
bidding neutral commerce to voyage
between American and other neutral
ports without permission of British
PRESIDENT consul and afterward calling
at a British port for search and per-
mission to continue their voyages.
They not only excuse all these IN
juries and insults, but they openly
clamor that we should give our pub
lie money and send our young men
to die in behalf of England.
Now, we insist that both these par
tisans of Germany and these par
tisans OF England are mighty poor
specimens Of genuine, loyal, whole
hearted Americans.
No man is whole-hearted Amer
lean who thinks in his heart first Of
another country and next of our own
country.
The true American thinks only and
all the time, day and night, OF his
own country, and anxiously searches
his thoughts for the policy that will
most surely preserve the peace and
secure the safety and exalt the pres
tige and the renown of the Republic
which is his hearts own dearest love
If our judgment is not wholly at
fault, If an anxious and whole-heart-
cd and absolutely devoted loyalty to
our flag and to our people has not
misled us, then we are right in urging
upon you, citizens, and upon the Con-
gress that represents you, the safe
and sound and honorable and fair
policy of declaring and maintaining
armed neutrality against ANY and
EVERY aggression upon the rights
of our citizens and the honor Of our
flag; and in urging that instead Of
abandoning the other neutrals, who
are our natural allies. we formally
place our country at the head Of the
neutrals, in an armed. determined and
powerful league TO ENFORCE NEU-
TRIAL RIGHTS. THE FREEDOM OF
THE SEAS AND THE PEACE OF
THE WORLD
Senators and Representatives in
Congress, the moment you assemble
in the Capitol you will be beset and
besieged by a clamorous propaganda,
financed by powerful interests, and
showing a press support out of all
proportion to any real support among
the people of your country, and this
propaganda will exert all its strength
to sweep you from your feet and to
thrust you into a declaration of war
without any time for consideration,
reflection, mutual counsel or public
debate.
We beg you, IN the name of your
people, whose real sentiments you
well know, that you will stand firm
against this carefully prepared as
sault upon your reason and your
councils; that you take time to speak
and to hear one another; that you
deliberate as the Constitution pre-
sumes that you will deliberate, be-
fore exercising the greatest and. most
fateful of all the powers that SUI
preme instrument confers upon you;
and that you keep the nation at peace
if there is a way to preserve the
nations peace with the nations
honor.
And then we ask you to say, after
reflection and deliberation, upon your
honor and your oaths and your 10y
atty to our dear country, If the for
nation of a league Of neutrals, and
a declaration of armed neutrality
and an open statement to the world
that we mean to and that henceforth
we will maintain by non-intercourse
or by force the freedom of the seas
and the lawful rights of all neutral
commerce, Is not truly the way in
which peace can be preserved with
honor, and your people can be saved
from ENHANCEMENT in this horrible
war, now rushing with the speed OF
tempest to the conclusion OF its
waste and slaughter.
Look at poor Europe, Senators ana
Representatives at that aWtul
and frightful scene Of woe ana
wretchedness What possible gain
! can any Of these maddened Govern
ments Obtain that win repay so much
as the millionth part of all this muir
der OF their peoples and all TINS
destruction Of their industries, their
achievements, their very civilization!
Look on that dreadful scene ana
ask yourselves as these madmen
struggle and slay and destroy;
''For what? In Gods name, for
what?"
Ocrfo a, -, I,t,,o gIu,cioctt