Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-08-25

ment of truth in this explanation. II
is true that We do not like the lack
OF respect accorded TO women by the
average German; that the positions of
woman in Germany seems TO US an.
omalous in a nation claiming a super.
ior type of civilization; that the bump.
tious attitude of the German Intel.
| !eCtual" amuses or disgusts us; and
that the insOience OF your young off
| GERS who elbow us off the sidewalks
/ in your cities makes us long to meet
: those individuals again outside the
/ boundaries of Germany, where no mill.
tary government, jealous of their
honor" could protect them from the
thrashing they deserve. II is also
true that, at international congresses,
excursions and banquets. attended by
/ both men and women representatives
t of all nations, the Germans have
gained an unenviable reputation for
bad manners because they have push.
ed themselves into the best places.
crowded into the trains ahead of the
women and generally ignored the
cOurtesies due to ladies and gentlemen
/ associated with them. But, in spite OF
| our full recognition OF this undesirable
national trait, / doubt whether any
great number of Americans have per-
: mitted dislike of German manners
to affect their opinion as TO German
] morals in the conduct of war, though
some do hold that lack of good man.
ncrs is a characteristic mark of in.
/ ieriOr civilization. On the whole. we
have been inclined to Sc tolerant OF
| German rudeness, regarding it as in
part due TO the rapid material deyel.
, opmcnt OF a young nation. and pos.
sibly as, in part, the result of over
/ aggrcssivencss fostered by military
training.
II is only fair to say. also, that ouI
admiration of Germany's achievements
in art, literature, and science never
led us so far as TO accept the claim
OF superiority in these lines advanced
by many Germans on behalf of theiI
country. The insistence with which
this claim has been reiterated and pro
claimed abroad by Germans. Otter
b with more of patriotism than of gool
taste, may have led part of the pub
lie TO believe ii. But the more intelli
p gent and thoughtful portion of the peo
+ pie, accustomed to analyse suCl
. claims by careful comparison with tn,
! products of nOn-TcutoniC civilization
has been unable to find any adcquat,
basis for the assumed superiority. In
deed. while intelligent and fairmind
ed Americans are now slow to reCog
nizo GCrmany's great contributions I,
the worlds art, literature, and science
! they believe that, with the possibl
!. exception of music. greater contrib
D tions have been made in these line
by France, England, and other nation
5 In the realm of invention, we fun
n appreciate the skill and rcsourcefu
a ness manifested by the German peopl
: in adapting new discoveries to thCl
p own needs; but we cannot deny tn
g.. fact that most of the discoveries whiC
/, have played so critical part in the d,
vclopmcnt of modern civilization hav
{ been made. not Jin Germany, but 4
other countries.
In regard To municipal government
. and various forms OF social Legislation
p We have long recognized the high pos
+, tion held by your nation. But in tn
!. more vital matter of the relation O
;. the individual to the supreme govern
ing power, We have always held. an
still believe. that Germany is sadl
rcaCtionary. For half century you
professors. in the employ of an cd,
cational system controlled by bur,
0ucratiC government. have taugl