Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-27
WEDNESDAY. MARCH 81. 1918
Our German FeIlow-Citizens.

II is not 10 be denied that the lot OF
our German American fellow-citizens, dur
ing these trying war times, is anything
but desirable They are with us and OF
us; but they cannot entirely suppress
their love for the Fatherland and for
get their German origin. Yet IN this
crisis they must decide whether they
shall cast their sympathieS, If not their
lot, entirely with the country of their
sdoption. the country to which their
forbcars came, or with their mother
country. Germany, in this period OF war.
They must make their choice, and abide
BY the result.
The Rev. Sigrnund Won Bose, pastor
of Zion Lutheran Church, has taken
exception to statement in an editorial
IN Every Evening. on Monday, TO the
effect that in his arrangement of Sunday
school programs for his flock, after the
war in Europe had been opened, he gave
prominence to the German boastful song
OF Deutschland, Deutschland, Cher
Allies" Germany, Germany, Over AID
He saws il never was included in any
Sunday school program under his pas
torate.
On close examination we find that Rev.
Mr.. Won Bosse is correct in stating that
this German hoastful song was not IN
cluded in any Sunday school program Of
exercises held under his pastorate. But
the song was sung IN his church, on the
occasion OF a receptinm given by the
church to his father, on the latter's
return from a journey TO Europe, II
was sung then, but not as part Of .
sunday school program.
But the one thing that bothers some
Of Us who are nativc-born citizens, and
who hsve come down from generations
or those who were born on the soil Of
our country. is why some Of our cltl-
zens of German birth or extraction should
cling so tenaciouslv TO their love for the
Fatherland. Not that they should re-
pudiate Germany and all her works, or
forget for 2 minute that they are OF Ger
man birth or extraction; but that they
should hold Germany, with all her sins
of omission and commission, at this time
in higher esteem than they hold this great
country Of the United States OF America.
Just consider for an instant the con-
dition OF some OF the citizens Of VII
mington whose forbears were Germans.
Their fathers left Germany, years ago,
and came 10 the United States, hailing
It as d country OF opportunity. And they
found it such. Here they prospered.
Here they reared their children and edu-
Gated them, until they achieved posi-
tions OF prominence and affiuence-
Vow, suppose for an instant that these
old Germans had not left the land OF
their birth and come to this great country
Of opportunity What would have been
the fate of their children, now enjoy
ing such I'm" opportunities Of
good living and high position in this coun-
trv? In ali probability these chill
dren would have been following the plow,
wearing wooden shoes. working for small
wage, and without the slightest encour-
sgement to q rise in life Instead, they
are now filling the finest business positions
and doing well in every sense Of the term
Yet so many Of these citizens Of Ger
man origin, who have done so we'll in
this country. so infinitely better than
they would ever have had an op-
portunity of doing in Germany had their
forbears remained IN that country, are
arrayed IN sympathy with their Father
land, and in-too many instances in open
hostility TO the country of their adop-
ton, the country that has done So much
for them II the way Of opportunity
Why should this be so
Rev Mr. Won Bosse objects to the
statement that the boastful song Of
Deutschland Uber Allies was included
in one Of his Sunday school programs
Very well, ii was not But it was, as
we have said, sung in his church upon
4 certain occasion. And why ?
Among the members Of Rev Won Bosses
church are some Of the best representa-
ti1es Of German-American citizenship
in tins city They are good citizens,
Interested in the progress and prosperity
Of the city We cannot believe they
are 50 obsessed by latent love for their
Fathcrland that they would care to see
il triumph over this country in the war
nov going on. But Rev. MFR. Won Bosse
seems to be different. As pastor Of their
church, before our country declared war
against Germany, he was vigorous in his
advocacy of the cause Of Germany,
defending all that country's acts, even
10 the murderous sinking Of the Lusi-
tania. He succeeded DR.. Hexamer of
as president OF the German
American Alliance, an organization whose
LOYALTY Is now under serious question