The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-01-30
Were They Exposed Unjustly?

Richmond, whose judgments are determined by
tender hearts instead Of dispassionate intellects
believe that an injustice was done to the two
Metzdorffs when they were arrested for utterine
opinions that do not square with loyalty to the
American government. ~
Others may believe that patriots in this COM
munity are entirely too severe in their arraign-
ment and condemnation of persons guilty Of pro-
German sympathies.
Let us waive discussion of the principle in
volved in the Incarceration of the Metzdorffs and
in the denunciation Of the misguided persons who
wish the Kaiser success, and confine ourselves to
a comparison Of incidents that have led to arrests
here and elsewhere, and then determine if we
have been too Jealous.
A news dispatch few days ago briefly stated
that two editors of German newspaper publish
ed 1t Kansas City had been arrested under the
espionage act, because American citizens born in
Germany complained Of articles which they be-
heved ininaical to our national welfare. The COM
plaint, let us note, was made by Gernan-Ameri-
cans and not by an Investigating body.
Three articles were cited as sufficient cause
for police action. One was an editorial, another
a news item, and the third a copy of purported
letter.
The editorial was a broadside against the
Presidents speech to Congress and described it
as one that may be joyfully received in England,
France and Italy. But after the average Ameri-
can has read through the labyrinth Of high sound
ing sentences he comes to the conclusion that they
contain not word of either cheer or hope to
him."
The news article said that the Central Powers
were carrying on defensive war; and were not
responsible for the continuation Of the war;"
The letter described Americas entry into the
war as ''the most monstrous treachery to the peo-
pie of the United States that has ever happened"
Here are three lines Of attack on our national
spirit that are typical Of German propaganda in
this country. The Whole purpose Of these screeds
was to discourage Americans and to create dis
satisfaction with the action of our government in
entering the war.
These sentiments are not such extreme views
that they loom high above the expressions of
others whose hearts beat responsive to the illus
i've calls of Pan-Gernanism Neither are they
more emphatic in their opposition to Americas
entrance into the war than many that have been
made by some persons who reside in Richmond
Statements of the two Metzdorffs and Of 9TH
er pro-Germans in this community show greater
venom and vehemence than the ones which the
two Kansas City editors permitted to be printed
in the columns of their papers.
The espionage act carries penalty of fine
not to exceed $4,000 and penitentiary sentence
Of not more than twenty years, or both fine and
imprisonment.
This is the bright prospect that faces the two
editors for publishing articles that tend to dis
turb the placidity Of national life and cast re-
Elections on the integrity Of our chief executive
Now, we ASK Is there patriot in Richmond,
who, in view Of the provocation that brought
about the arrest Of the two Kansas City editors,
still believes that an injustice has been done to
the Metzdorffs by clapping them into prison, or
that the community has been too harsh in con-
demning the utterances, stated or implied, public
~ made or privately expressed, of ro-Germans
in this community?
Have not Americans without drop of Ger
man in their veins, and hyphenated Americans of
our own city been guilty of utterance that exceed
in disloyal intent the statements which resulted
in the arrest of the two editors?
Should we hesitate to bring them up with
short turn?
Must not our community to maintain an un-
sullied reputation for loyalty ostracize citizens
who are not heart and soul in sympathy with our
national aims, and send to prison those who OPEN
ly denounce or deride our military preparations ?
The patriot has only one answer.
Reprehensible Disloyalty |!
Theolopians divide the manner in which one
may sin as to thought, word and deed.
They say desire to kill man, or to njure
L~l Loro ~