The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1918-04-26
RY, PRUENTE MAKES
.TALKOK PATRIOTISM
Says People MUST Help the Gov.
ernmeut livery Time 1t
calls.

Kew tDeriIdfd E'i'~' I'"-'NOA Va
st. Mary's Cath. eh' congre-
cation made up a 'clu3lVeiy OF
German-Americans W Days ago
delivered a Patio aress, Slfglng
his people to g, Mt for the
United States. III t.t9'sn has pur-
chased more tina. 1000 in thrift
stamps, but Fatt ,uente is making
a determiped ei4 I to impress upon
the people the need of their help IN
winning the war. His remarks on the
war were as follows:
Much has been said of the relation
Of the foreign-born citizens and their
descendants to this country and, in
particular, their attitude during the
war. There is to be meeting this
week at tThich, because of absence
from the city, cannot attend, and at
which the latter point is to be AMIGA
bly, discussed and elucidated, in order
to remove or obviate any misgivings
and misunderstanding
''Now l think that, in advance of
any discussion, there can be no doubt
what relation and what attitude in
this regard foreign-born citizens and
descendants of such hold, and as a
whole do hold at all times and par
ticularly in time of war. The rela-
ton is that of every good American, a
relation of natural love, of long and
strong attachment, and plain duty,
the attitude one of undivided allie
glance, Of answering, unwavering fl
missing loyalty and hearty readiness
TO do any service that the govern
ment requires and any other service
that can be rendered and is conducive
to the honor and welfare of our be-
loved country. SO l have announced
and declared Immediately after our
entrance into the world war. This is
the position all of you maintain and
will always maintain. The Holy
Scripture tells US that we are in con-
science bound to render cheerful ODE
dience to lawful civil authority and
the supreme lawful authority of our
country is invested in our President
and the congress of the United
States. Our duty as Christian citi-
zens is therefore obvious and unmis-
taxable whether we have been born
OF reared in this country, or whether
we have come from across the sea to
reside here.
"Nost Of you have been born in
this country, this is your native land
the land of your birth, your whole
earthly existence is from the very
beginning most closely and intimate
~ bound up with America. You
could never for 4 moment think of
owing or giving allegiance to any
other country in the whole world. You
are naturally, exclusively, fully and
truly Americans as any whose parents
or grandparents have come over from
some other country of Europe. You
would feel and Indignantly resent it
as a grevious offense and gross per-
sonal insult if any one would doubt
and question your perfect loyalty to
your country. And it is not necessary
that you should declare and proclaim
this in very words, time and again,
and more than any other American
citizen. 1t is self-evident, and your
deeds shall, will always prove your
sentiments.
As to those who at one time have
left their native land and come hither
to make this their home and who be-
sides have sworn allegiance to this
country, it is likewise unjust to ques-
ton and suspect their loyalty with
out good reasons to the contrary.
They have come thither to follow
their vocations to enjoy the liberties
and blessings Of this country and to
work out their temporal and spiritual
welfare, and, hence, take deep and
lively interest in everything that con-
ctShs the honor and welfare of this
their voluntary adopted country. 1t
is moral principle that no one be
considered bad or guilty unless he be
proven to be go. Everyone has a nat
ural sat to his good name and rep
utation until he has forfeited it by
evil deeds and utterances. And we
prize highly the name and the repu-
tation of truly good, conscientious,
law abiding citizens.
Traitors, evil-doers and evaders of
duty, there may be and probably
there are among the Germantown
citizens or descendants of such, and
they, if convicted, should feel the full
penalty of the law But are such per-
SONS not also found among those
whose mares do 10: indicate foreign