The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-02-21
Citizens Of German Birth Are
Plainly Informed Of Their Duty

From an address at Milwaukee by
Otto H. Kahn Of Kahn, Loeb d co.,
New York.
'sThe world has been hurt within
these past three years as it was never
hurt before. In the gloomy and ac-
eusing procession of infinite sorrow
and pain which was started on that
thrice accursed day of July, 1914, the
hurt inflicted on Americans OF Ger
man descent takes it's tragically right
tnl place. The iron has entered our
souls. !.
HWe have been wantonly robbed of
Snyaluable possessions which nave
come down to US through the centur-
les: we have been rendered ashamed
Of that in which we took pride; we
have been made the enemies of those
of our own blood; our very names
garry the sound of a challenge to the
world. Surely we have all too valid a
title to rank amongst those most bit
ter1y aggrieved by Prussianism, and
to align ourselves in the very fore
front of those who in word and deed
are fighting to rid the world forever
Of that malignant growth.
Disgrace on German Name
Heaven knows, l do not want, by
anything may be saying or doing,
to add one ounce to the burden of the
worlds eXecration which rests already
with crushing weight upon the rulers
of Germany and their misguided peo-
ole. Nor do I seek forgiveness for my
German birth by demonstrative zeal
in action or speech. l was and am
proud of the great inheritance which
came to me as a birthright, and of
the illustrious contributions which the
German people have made to the i'm
perishable assets of the world.
'Until the outbreak Of the war, in
1914, maintained close and person
al and business relations with Ger
many. l was we'll acquainted with
some of the leading personages Of the
country. served in the German army
80 years ago. l took an active inter-
est in furthering German art in
America.
81 do not apologize for, nor am l
ashamed-bitterly and previously as
hamed-of the Germany which stands
convicted before the high tribunal of
the worlds public opinion Of having
planned and willed war; Of the re-
Voting deeds committed in Belgium
and northern France, of the infamy
of the Lusitania murders, of innumer-
able violations of The Hague conven-
1ions and the law of nations, Of ab-
ominable and perfidicus plotting in
friendly countries and shameless
abuse Of their hospitality, of crime
heaped upon crime in hideous def
ance of the laws of God and men.
II cherish the memories Of my
youth, but these very memories make
me cry out in pain and wrath against
those who have befouled and dis
credited the spiritual soil of the old
Germany in which they were rooted
''Long before the war l had come
TO look upon Prussianism as amongst
the deadliest poison growths that ever
sprang from the soil of the spirit OF
man.
"When the war broke out in Eur
ope when Belgian was invaded,
searched my conscience and my judg-
ment in sorrow and anguish, the pow
erful voice of blood arguing against
the still, small voice of right.
The Sins of Prussianism
'<And it became clear to me to the
point of solemn and unshakable con-
viction that Prussianism, in mad in
fatuation, had committed the crown
ing sin of outraging and defying the
conscience Of the world and Of chal
longing it to cortal combat, and tha'
the cause which the allies were de-
Tending was our cause, because it wa:
the cause Of peace, humanity, justic.
and liberty (aye liberty, even though
Russia, then under autocratic rule
happened to array on that side, ant
even though diplomats and ruler
made that sacred cause the basis AM
excuse for territorial barter AM
trade and spoils hunting.)
''In accordance with this conviction
I have acted and spoken ever since
but I did not feel that it would b
either right or fitting for me publicl