Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-25
(By William English Walling.)

than that the attitude of the. Ameri-
can people toward the German people
and our attitude toward the German
government are two separate and dis
tinct things. The president has lost
no opportunity to voice the American
position in this matter. In all of his
addresses since the beginning of the
war he has touched upon this distinc-
ton. But he has only been able to
discuss limited phases Of this great
and vitality important subject in each
speech; it is only when we put all of
his references to the German people
together hat we realize how COM
pletely he has stated the feeling of
America.
Let us show briefly how the presi-
dent has stated % the relation of
man people, CD the attitude Of the
German people toward its govern
ment n toward the present war, 90
the feeling Of the people of the
United States toward the German
people, and ca the reasons why we
are at present engaged in fighting
both the German government n the
German people.
1. German Government and German
People.
In his message calling for a decla-
1 tiNioil VI wal L6dlllSl %IS ilolIys ! lSos-
dent Wilson spoke of the German gov
eminent as one hat did what it
pleased and told the people nothing"
and further referred to that govern
ment as al "autocracy backed by
organized force which is controlled
wholly by its will, and not by the will
of its people,"
Since this great address the presi-
dents references to h character OF
the German government and it's atti-
tude toward the German and Other
tation from his Flag day speech (June
Ia will he sufficient TO define his
well known position:
The war was begun by tho military
masters OF Germany, who proved to be
also the masters of Austria-Hungary
These men have never regarded ma
tons as peoples, men, women anC
children Of like blood and frame as
themselves. for whom governments
existed and in whom governments hae
their life. They have regarded then
which they could, by force or intrigue
bend or corrupt to their w purpose.
=. The Position Of the German
People.
The president has carefully n re
peatedly stated the tragic position o
the German people at the present mo
ment as we Americans see it. He ha!
said that this people did not originate
choose or desire this hideous war, 20
wish that we should be drawn int.
it" (.Iune IA. 1T vas not upon thei
impulse thai their government acte'
in entering the war. 1t was not will
their previous knowledge or approval
april p.
The president has gone out Of hi
way to pay a sincere tribute to tn
sterling qualities of the German PEG
pie Is recognized by the Overwhelming
majority of Americans. In his address
to the American Federation of Labo
at Buffalo (Nov. 13) he said:
Il believe that the spirit of freedor
can get into the hearts of German
and find as fine a welcome there as
can find in any other hearts, but tn
spirit of freedom does not suit tn
plans of the pan Gcrmans."
But it is not necessary for us t
enter further into the virtues or othc
characteristics of the German peopI'
The essential question involved
their attitude toward the people {
America. The president has stated Z
the very beginning Of the war hat W
pie cherished toward us "any hostiI
feeling or purpose" april 81
3. The Attitude of America Towar
the German People.
Feeling h a it was impossible thu
l the German people, apart from TT
German ruling, classes can, or di,
7 harbor any hostility toward Americ
(see above), the president thus e,
pressed the general conviction tn;
e I'VE are not the enemies Of the Ge'
q man people and they are not OF
=. onopoioc' T1rn "a
The belief is almost universal
this country. that I'VE are tightir
! their cause as they will some day Sc
: it, as we'll as our own" June Ia
Q In the opening message Of the w;
the president categorically declared
I'VE have no quarrel with the &c
= man people. We have no feeling t
ward them but one of sympathy ar
!, friendship"
= This expression met with the pra
: tically unanimous approval of the Ell
: day speech (June lad the presidel
further declared:
This is a peoples a a wal I,
/. freedom and justice and .self-goverl
2 ment amongst all the nations of IL
3 world, a war to make the world ga
. for the peoples who live upon 1t al
have made it their own, the Germs
people themselves Included"
LA. Why We Are At Present Compelk
g TO Fight Both the German Go
Q eminent I. and the German PeopI
g In his reply to the pope the pre-.
dent said:
e THE American people believe tn
y peace rests upon the rights Of peopl,
x not the rights Of governments-t
n rights of peoples great or small, we,
o or powerful-their EQUAL right
freedom and security and self-gover