The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-12-12

her. For crimes committed. her of
fcials who authorized them viii be
brought to book, and appropriately
punished, as other criminals are pun
Iished, for this sort Of guilt is personal
and not political. Stern justice will be
melted out to her. All this is as it
should be, but after the demands Of
justice are satisfied, what thens
'SAn American travelling in German
lis struck with the number of things
that are 'vefboten. 1t is evidence of
the state Is interference with individual
action even in minor details. The
theory that the nation which is gov
erned least is governed best has NO
place in German political philosophy.
The state is the master and the indi-
vidnal the subject IN the full meaning
of those terms. This idea is as firmly
rooted in the minds OF the most rahid
German socialist as IN that Of the most
conservative Junker. Each believes in
the most thorough control of the indi-
vidual by the state. A government,
whether autocratic or purely socialis-
tic in its character-based on this prin-
ciple is Of necessity tyrannical aud de-
struction of the rights of the indi-
vidual which we Americans deem in
herent and which are secured to us
in express terms by our national and
state constitutions.
1T is especially important for US
here in Wisconsin to understand how
thoroughly these German ideas are op-
Iposed to the principles upon which our
government is founded. Socialism had
its original in Germany. It's leaders in
this country are either men OF German
birth, or German descent, or thorough
~ imbued with the ideas Of German
socialism The vast majority of their
followers are men Of foreign birth, hav-
ing not even rudimentary acquaint-
ance with our history or principles of
government In q recent meeting Of
the party held in Chicago, at which
Victor Berger was the chief attraction
and speaker, the addresses were made
in the German, Russian, Lithuanian
and Yiddish tongues. The chairman OF
tae meeting seems to have been the only
one whose mother tongue was English.
Having but that language at his com
mand, he was personally unable to con-
vey to the members Of the German rank
present his wishes that they furnish
the assemblage with music. Speeches
were made expressing sympathy with,
and warmly supporting the debauched
Prussian agents Lenine and Trotzky,
and the Bolsheviki movement in Rus
STA, that reign Of terror, besides which
the French Reign of Terror was ut
terly insignificant, and which has
brought the Russian people to q pitt
able condition Of starvation, financial
disaster and political chaos. The Ma
tional Socialist party, in it's st. Louis
platform, which the Wisconsin branch
LOT the party in it's state platform rati-
fed, denounced our declaration Of war
upon Germany 50 q crime against
civilization and its most prominent
leaders are now on trial in Chicago for
violation Of the Espionage Act, by dis
loyal speeches and acts. Notwith-
standing all this Victor Berger at the
election last Spring as candidate for
the Office of United States senator
from Wisconsin received one hundred
and ten thousand votes, and this Fall
was elected TO Congress ever his demo
cratic and republican opponents. At
the same election the socialist party
elected its entire List Of candidates for
county officers Of the county Of Milwau-
kee with its half million inhabitants.
TO remedy this situation and the
evil it signifies is Georges Job, -
that is yours and mine, and that of
everyone who has this country Is inter.
ests at heart. The remedy is the thor
ough Americanization Of the foreigners
who have come and are coming here
taking up their homes with us--who
have become and viii become citizens
iof this republic, whose votes are go
ing to determine the future policies OF
this country just as effectively as yours
and mine. You cannot expect these
persons to vote intelligently and wise
~ on the great and difficult questions
which confront this country now, and
in accordance with the true spirit Of
our institutions, unless they know
something about those institutions.
We must abandon the idea that the
melting POT will fuse these strangers
into good Americans, unless we supply
the fuel to keep the pot hot. The fuel
lis our personal work and endeavor in
the community where we live. That
word personal means personal. J
nothing else. Now how and by what
methods is the result we desire to be
brought abouts First in the schools.
teaching English and only English IN
1.-THE grade schools, teaching American
history and driving its lessons home
SO that the pupils really understand
them, arouzing the patriotic spirit by
the daily singing Of patriotic songs,
etc. Second, establishing schools where
adults ignorant Of our language may