The Princeton union., 1918-08-01
POLISH GERMAN.
de Detests Germany, It's Damnable
Military System, and Insolent
and Brutal Junkers.
He Came to This Country, Prospered
and is Grateful and Loyal
American Citizen.

50
IS. Swidzinski, who before coming
TO this country was resident Of
Posen, formerly part Of Poland, but
now German province. He served
as soldier in the Franco-Prussian
war IN the German army, much against
his inclination. He came to Minnesota
and settled in Lyon county and is now
prosperous farmer. He has son
IN the United States army. Here. is
the story he told Gunnar B. Bjornson
OF the Minneota Mascot, and he never
dreamt that it would appear in print.
The Mascot editor rendered his coun-
try great service in publishing it,
for we have those among us who do
not appreciate the blessings this free
country confers upon them.
This, in substance, is what Mr..
Swidzinski said:
No man can tell me anything about
the brutal militarism Of Germany. I
have been through the mill. I have
lived under the oppression of German
rule. I know that the common people
of Germany are, foe all intents and
purposes, slaves. The rich override
the. poor and the military autocracy Of
the country bosses everything. There
is no Such thing as freedom in that
country and the world will never be
safe until the backbone of the Prussian
beast has been broken.
when was there you could not
go from one village to another with
out a permit from the authorities. If
you wanted to go to visit members of
your family in another town you had
to get leave to do so from some bloat-
ed official who inquired into the
reasons you had for making the trip,
and if he gave you permit to go you
did not dare to go foot farther than
that permit allowed, nor did you dare
to stay day longer than that permit
allowed, nor did you dare to stay a
day longer than you were given per-
mission to. The people worked like
slaves and the industrial and military
tautocrats lived off the fat of the land.
IF Germany wins this war it will
lead the world about by chain, as
one would lead a dog. IF I were not
as old as ] am / would like nothing
better than to go across and take a
few shots at that damnable system,
under which my people and have suf-
fered so much.
II came to this country, America, a
poor man, but I was given an equal
chance with others, I was given the
rights of citizenship, I was given
freedom and liberty to an extent that
7 did not dream existed anywhere up
on the globe. For the first time in
my life felt that was really man
among men. Handicapped as to
language and knowing nothing of the
ways of this country nor about the
work that I must do, I pitched in and
did the best could and my efforts
have been rewarded in a measure that
leaves nothing to be complained about.
II hope that Germany will be licked
as no country was ever licked before,
and am glad to know that / have a
boy who is helping to do this job.
You who have not lived under the iron
heel Of the brutes who rule in Prussia
have. no idea Of the things that the
common people have to put up with.
/ tell you Prussia must be licked else
no one is safe anywhere: They will
drive the people of any conquered
country into slavery and there is no
such thing as conscience about the
high-handed bosses Of Berlin.
"Don't tell me that don't know
what am talking about. I have been
there. I was born there, I have lived
there, / have suffered there, and
thank Cod got away from there.
I love America, it has been good to me,
and it is my country and ! am more
proud Of my citizenship in it than ]
can tell.
q have had to work hard ever since
/ came here but have had liberty,
opportunity, privileges and rights that
have made life worth living. When
the bullets Of the French were picking