Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-10
Letters From
Our Readsre
Neo-Prusaianls.n "a I
BY Rev. N. j. Lob

purpose ] had In mind in the publt-
ton Of . recent article in The Herald
on "Neo-Prussiantsm" without being
able to apply the conclusions. I
lowing as the application Of the mat
tor to present conditions:
Not tnfreQusntly do we note that q
misguided zeal for Americanism< clam
|ors for r~estri0tton or even complete
prohibition Of the use Of any other
language IN the United States than the
American. ] wish to express my ap-
probation OF the stand that Tho Her
] has taken in this question.
This anti-polylingual propaganda 10
g very vicious one. tits not only un-
American: It is strictly anti-Ameri-
can. TO say that disloyalty Is the
try. n q bt-product Of the foreign
platform and pulpit is to make an as
sertion which rests upon ignorance, Is
prompted by prejudice and promoted
y group animosity. It is true that
the German press and platform dur
Ing the period OF our neutrality were
pro-German. No reasonable person,
would seriously blame them: for even
In America blood is thicker than wa
ter. But to say that the German
press and platform@ Is equally pro-
herman after w became a part in the
world conflict would be to utter
fa!sehood, or possibly a lie.
That the Scandinavian press, plat
form and pulpit r anti-American Is
q base lie. That there are exceptions
to he rule Of loyalty Is readily grant
ed; and we n also willing to grant
that there : exceptions to the rule
Press and platform, whore the Celtic
stock in America speaks to the AM
erican public.
Tho Lutheran church Of Amertca
q been condemned ~ disloyal be-
u Of national diversity. This judy
mont 90 freely expressed Is the pro-
duct OF q mixture Of pure ignorance
and group prejudices. II the self
appointed. would be guardians Of
to INFORM themselves OF the subject,
such rant would be. expressed
by any n mentally capable Of grasp
Ing an idea. Let these critics turn to
the publications Of our various Luth-
eran bodies, both periodicals and re-
ports. and they will find there proof
to the contrary. Let anyone DESTROYS
to know the truth come to our Luth-
a churches and neal the sermons
on duty to our country, and the last
vestige of the charge will disappear.
We shall readily grant that there
are exceptions in the other churches.
Was it not the pastor Of a German
Methodist church who was sentenced
to person for seditious work. But we
cannot judge a church by the unfor-
tunate exceptions, which no other
body SO much deplores 10 tho Luther
An church.
"1t is true that the Lutheran
church does not parade its loyalty by
~yfvN ~ nWt hAA Ay{~A la na~~t 81
vertising Of its loyalty. It believes tsat
true loyalty Is not the boisterous kind
that boasts publicly and breaks pri-
vately. but that true loyalty is the
kind that rests upon the firm founda-
ton Of Gods W precept. II any
person desires to know the teaching
Of the Lutheran church let him read
Romans 1917.
The Lutheran church occupies a
most singular situation in this coun-
try. It is a polyglot church. It must
tongues Of several European Language
.es. To forbid the use Of these lam
yuages would strike at the very root
Of the Lutheran church with It's near
Ely three million membership within
the United States.
It is q well. known fact that a per-
sons mother tongue and his religion
FORMS tho Two greatest n most
valued possessions Of the individual.
They regarded as ''inalienable rights
and are as dear as "life, liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness" It is the
guarantee Of these which cur and
~'insures domestic tranquility !.
and cur the blessings of liberty"
for which America stands.
To single out groups of nationalities
and groups OF believers and make
them the targets for criticism, and to
attempt to strange their privileges is
o. Prussian principle which we hope
will not thrive on American soil. But
this Neo-Prussianism has been lifting
its head quite high in many circles. I
do not mean to challenge the motives
O. his plat
form, but do feel justified in impeach-
ing their judgment.
The statement which demands that
America should prohibit or limit the
use Of other languages than the AM
erican. either in press. pulpit, or plat
form, rests upon ignorance of history
both past and passing.
Has not Prussia tried this principle
in all ases where she has had to rule
over other nationalites than the Ger