The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-02-18
HEART TO HEART TALK
Loyal GERMAN-AMERICAN AID
DRESSES GERMANS.
BY Herman wilke, Elwood, Ind.

I know Germany. I was born
there. went to school in the ia
therland, and let me tell you, my
good German friends, that you do
not know what you are talking
about when you support German au-
tocracy. III you are honest about it
YOU will say that you and your ia
theirs fled from Germany. just as
mine did, to escape military tyranny.
l know P~russianism. You may
have been born elsewhere in the en-
pire, but the brutal iron heel of the
government that has drenched this
whole world in its wal for world
power was the same power that
made every German who had a little
cottage or mud hut, no matter how
poor he was. to board a German sol
der free OF charge. That soldier
was the autocrat In that home. His
sword was law. If he punished a
child or knocked him from the chair
to the floor the father must smile.
To resent the action of the brutal
guest, who must have the best OF ev-
erything In that house. was to bring
dire punishment upon that head of
the family. There was a filled KNAPP
sack hanging upon the wall and a
loaded gun In the corner and when
a call OF war did come that soldier.
With $50 others. knew just where to
run in order to form a company
ready for immediate service. That is
a type of the German organization
for you. What I have said can not
be denied.
Let me tell you something else. l
have been asked so many times.
How can the German people, who are
generally so peaceful, have changed
into such m~urderers? l tell you that
for years and years there has not
been a minister standing in the pull
pits of Germany but has been select
ed by the government. Approved by
the powers, he has never preached to
the people without combining the
name of Kaiser Wilhelm with God
Almighty.
The people have it preached to
them. 1t became a part OF their re-
ligion. God had given them the kai-
ser. II is a part of their very train
ing as well, for not a school teacher
or instructor in the schools Of the
fatherland but is subject to the APP
prevail of the imperial German gov
eminent and not q session is held but
the children are taught that Germany
must lead the world, that their kali
ser and their God are i~nseparably
connected. I tell you that the Ger
man people have had so much of this
constant effort that they really be-
lieve what has been taught. and can
not escape from the virus.
My mother brought me to this
country. She knew what military
tyranny was. for she suffered until
we came to the land of the free to
live under the God-given stars and
stripes. Often have l heard her say
in her heartbroken anguish over the
safety of her brothers who fought in
the German legions. "Oh. why is il
necessary for a people to fight and
keep great armies when all could be
so happy"
Her brothers were killed in battle,
but our love went out to this great
country OF freedom which has blessed
the world and which is ours today.
How happy she would be were she
only here now to know that three
sturdy grandsons are in the service
ready to follow Old Glory to a great
er sphere of freedom than the world
has ever known. They have taken q
solemn VOW to follow our flag until
II floats In triumph over Dresden ii
need be. And their march, my
friends, won't be the march OF the
Germans through Belgium with Its
crime and its blood and its tears. for
they will say to the German people:
Come. my brothers. into the en-
joyment OF the fruit of great free
dom Of a world democracy that
knows no divine right of kings and
that shall mean for all peace and
happiness. We come not to rob you
OF your land, or your money. or to
enslave you. but to bring you in larg-
er measure, that message which the
angels sang on the night the dear
Jesus was born In old Judea: Peace
on earth; good will to men,"