Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-14
TOOK THE CERMA N POINT OF VIEW.

John 7. Adams Of Dubuque. Iowa, is a member OF
the Republican national ommittee, and was a candidate
for the position OF chairman. He was not elected to
that position. One OF the causes of his defeat was the
disclosure of a letter which Mr.. Adams is said to have
written to his home paper from Berlin on August 81,
1914, in which the causes of the war were discussed at
considerable length. Mr.. Adams had been in Germany
evidently long enough to get the German point of view,
and his letter was devoted to expressions of sympathy
with the Germans in their warfare. and to denunciations
of the actions of France, Great Britain and Russia. The
Austrian assault on Serbia was referred to in terms of
appreciation. The invasion Of Belgium was ce:ended.
The readers of the. letter were given to understand that
the war had been planned and forced by the Allies, and
that Germany was merely defending the rights of her
people against jealous and aggressive %neighbors who were
to destroy her.
Assuming that Mr.. Adams wrote that letter, which
does not appear to have been denied, it is not strange that
he did not land the position of national chairman of any
political party. unless it happened to be that of the Boil
sheviki party. The man who entertained the sentiments
expressed in that letter. who, being a man Of some edu-
cation and information, was convinced when the war was
but a month old that the German position was right, and
that all her adversaries were wrong. may have changed
his opinions in the meantime. But the chances are that
he has not. The mental attitude that is indicated in Mr..
Adams letter does not change readily. fee man who
was capable OF forming these conclusions at that time is
apt TO adhere to the opinions which he expressed then,
and to have become more rather than less pronounced
in his opinion in the meantime. Under all Of the cir
cunnstances. the burden of proof is on MI Adams.
1t may be said Of Mr.. Adams. as has been said OF 50
many others, that while he sympathized with Germany
up to our entrance into the war. he has cast all that be-
hind and is now loyalty supporting the government Of the
United States. 1t may be so, but again the burden of
proof is on the declarant- If Germany was right in in
vading Belgium, the entrance Of the United States into
the war did not make that act wrong. If it was RICH. 70.
her to sink the Lusitania, no subsequent &C. on the psr.
of the United States could or did change the chas.eze, y.
that act. And it is because of the whole long program. q
acts committed from the beginning of the war, acts
which the government Of the United States holds to be
artocious and shameful, that we are at war with Germany
today.
The Republican committee did the wise and natural
thing when it declined to elevate him to the position Of
chairman. 1t would seem that the members Of the Re-
publican party in the state Of Iowa, whom he represents
in the party councils, might have something to say about
his remaining on the committee in any capacity. Those
Republicans are entitled either to a very full and mani
testify sincere reputation of the opinions expressed in
that letter. or to a new committeeman.