Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-25
Our Enemies at Home.


The highly interesting testimony being
taken BY committee of the United
states Senate at Washington, in respect
of the political activities of the National
German-Ancrican Alliance, OF which Rev.
s. G.. Won BosSe of this city is president
serves to emphasize the Importance Of
making adequate provision for the pro-
lection of our country from ITS enemies
at home, as we'll rs for fighting its enemy
abroad In n certain sense the one Is as
important as tho other. The enemy Mt
home Is the more insidiouS and dangerous.
~ he works in the dark and strikes whcr-
ever he can see an opportunity Of making
his secret blow effective.
Whatever may have been the original
purposes of the National Gcrnan-ameri-
can Alliance operates under q
Federal charter Ii is well-known that
ir0m the beginning of the war in Europe
II became largely an agency for the moral
support Of the cause of Germany in this
country and A. much of active support as
was possible IN q neutral country. rs our
country Was up to little more than a
wear ago tnd no member of tho Alliance
was more Interested in its pro-tferman
work than Rev MIR Won Bose His
propaganda was energetic and public up
To the time Of our country's declaration
Of war against Germany He made no
secret Of his German sympathIcs. even at
times when tho relations between the
[ nited States and Germany were becom-
ing severely strained As was the case
immediately after the Lusitania outrage
which he does not set down 10 the dis
credit Of Germany II VIII be recalled how
Mr.. Won BosSe, in arranging programs Of
exercises for his Sunday school. gave
prominence To the boastful German song
Deutschland Deutschland. | bcr AllcS
most inappropriate. almost challenging.
selection IN view of the international con
dit ions that then prevailed Il could not
he imagined, even IN times OF profound
peace. much les such times Is have pre-
vailed during the past four wears, that
the people Of any community ~ the
United States would relish having dingcd
IN their ears the refrain that Germany Is
over all, even over our country
Since il has been under Investigation by
Congress. officers and members OF the
National Gcrman-American Alliance have
been eager 10 make it appear hat the
organization had no ulderhand purposes.
hut merely 10 maintain love and T,spec,
for the lfatherland and aia in . perpetua-
tIon If It's traditions among Ghe citizens
oi our country Of German birth or cxtrac-
ton Bat ltS activities III behalf of Cor
many up 10 the time Of our countys
active participation IN the war viii not be
forgotten The secretary Of tho Alliance.
Adolph Timm Of Phladclphia IN his
testimony before the Senate committee
on Wednesday, endeavorcd to show that
the Alliance was patriotic and loyal, Mr.
Won Bose. however, in his testimony. was
more frank. He admitted the deep inter
est of the Alliance in the cause Of Germany
during the war, and his efforts as d ''paci-
list and opponent Of Great Britain, only
insls ting that since the entrance Of our
country into the war the Alliance had
done nothing that could bc considered
traiiorous or disloyal
But the fact Is patent that tins orglni1a-
ton of German-Americans j. not III
sympathy with our country in its war
against Germany that lis members sus-
tain Germany IN all she has done from the
beginning of the WaT-in the rape Of Bel
gium. the sinking Of the Lusitania. and in
the commission of all the horrid outrages
OF war that had been unknown since the
days OF savagery until Germany took the
field That such an organization is q men
ace to the country is not 10 be doubted.
and the Congress should annul its charter
as soon as the committee now making
investigation presents its report
Meanwhile, the serious question il what
10 do with the traitors in our midst, for il
Is known they a~ numerous and danger
QUE Even though they appear only as
German sympathizers, they arc a seriously
disturbing element While they may com
NIT no overt act, they may do much in the
way OF suggestion and persuasion. We
have many Of them here in Wilmington,
and they can do a great deal Of harm
What should be done with them
1t might be good thing if all these
German sympathizers could, first Of all
be compelled to show their colors. If they
have the courage Of their convictions -or
al least their inclinations they should not
object to this Ii they could be compelled
to display, in their places Of business Or
the windows Of their homes, the flag of
the Kaiser, the community would know
them for what they really are Perhaps
this might be risky for them. bur il would