New-York tribune., 1918-03-01
Issues an Appeal to Elin1i-
nate "Kultur" From
American Life
Language Now Dead
Fatherland Called the Most
Loathsome and Treacher-
GUS Nation on Earth

Throw German text books and
TIC pro-German feathers out OF the
public schools, Make German a dead
language, so far as the rank and hic
Of America arc conccrnod!"
These exhortatious arc contained in
a pamphlet issued yesterday by the
American Defence Society as coun-
tcr-blast to the activities Of the Ger.
man-American Alliance 1t is hoped
that the pamphlet Will move the Board
OF Education to place a ban on all rem
nants CT German "kultur' still extant
in the school system here
In the pamphlet Germany is termed
"the most brutal, treacherous and
loathsome nation on carth' Further
charges arc made that German militar-
ism has committed "countlcss crimes
which decent newspapers cannot de-
scribe in print
Oh these grounds it is urged that
America turn her back entirely en-
Germany and all her works, reject her
Auitur' and ignore her language
bSUOuNCeS SOUND OF German
The sound of the German language
Or the sight of a printed page in Ger
man reminds us of the murder Of a
million helpless old men. unarmed men.
women and children; the driving OF
ABOUT 100000 young French. Belgian
and Polish women into compulsory
prostitution fer German soldiers; the
faVlshment and murder of young girls.
as young as eight years; the destruc-
ton of many hospital and relief ships
and the cruclhXlon of Canadian sol
der prisoners. Already we are read
ing how Germany cuts the tbroats of
American prisoners-our own boys. To-
morrow 1t may be crucifxion.
These things are not based on loose
hearsay evidence. The proof is album
cant. The only question i, What are
we going TO do about it?
Germany's greatest punishment for
her crimes Will be the records of his
tory and the scorn and aversion Of the
world for the next fifty years. Hence
forth in English speaking countries the
German language viii be q handicap to
every person who uses il. In these
countries the German language is now
dead language
During the last twenty wears the
Kaiser and his agents in the Jnieed
states have had fine times in pullinr
the wool over the eyes of Americans.
We no" know what vast amelnt OF
German propaganda work was con
Quoted under our very noses for the
scod OF Germany. while we-sleepv
lools that we were-not only paid no
attention to it, but actually paid the
cost OF II. The German books until
recently IN use in New York public
schools, lauding the Kaiser and Bis
marck and German miIitarism. were
every one Of them bought and paid
10Y by the taxpayers Of New York
Language Not Needed
And this to teach a language which
no American needs, unless it be the few
IN the medical profession and in the
teaching Of modern literature.
The time for sentiment about Goethe
and Schiller has gone by. Even the
best music Of Wagner now serves ONLY
to remind US OF the Lusitania and tho
seven hospital ships.
Any language which produces a peo-
pie OF rutnless conquestadors is not
ut TO be taught to pure American bovs
ana girls, and the most ordinary prin-
De eliminated from our schools.
Already several American cities
nave tahen drastic action against the
Iefman language. In New York it has
Deen thrown out OF the elementary
schools. ana very soon Il VIII 1--WE be-
Aevel be dropped out OF the high
schools also
'Dis-oyal teachers must follow the
enemy language out