The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-02-14

The TIMES prints the following
tense all the more willingly on ac-
count of the fact that in this county
the request to abandon, for the time
at least. the use of the German Ian
guage in either pulpit or school work
was willingly acceded to by the pas
tors to whom it was made. In fact,
the letter might have been written
to the Twin Falls County Council, but
some other county is evidently in like
case. Dated at Boise, February 6, the
letter is as follows:
Replying to your of January Both
relative to the preaching service in
German in your county. l congratu-
late your council and likewise the two
congregations that they have consent
ed, during the war, to conduct the
service exclusively in the American
language.
1T is a matter of profound regret
that thus far other pastors have not
consented to a like arrangement AS
Stunning that these pastors and their
flocks are loyal American citizens. it
is regrettable that they do not see
not only the reasOnableness but the
necessity in the midst of war to
avoid any thing through which aid
and comfort might be given to the
enemy government or which might be
suspected of being a means of doing
so.
THE American people are sending
their sons to war against an enemy
government. they are giving money
and making sacrifices to overthrow
the hostile power of that government.
and they are in no mood to tolerate
anything which is not plain and open,
so that it may be known by all that
there is nothing hostile under cover.
Meeting of any kind in an UNI
known tongue, whether the meetings
are political or religious, are likely
to provoke suspicion and resentment.
The foreign tongue is "A camOuflage
under which hostile sentiment and
hostile activities might be carried on.
and when it is the tongue of a gov
eminent with which, unfortunately,
we are at war, it will arouse sus-
picion and resentment.
1--WE have thousands of citizens of
German ancestry and of German birth
whom we have gladly welcomed and
whom we look upon as our brethren
and fellowcitizens, entitled to the pro-
lection of the laws, to our economic
and social opportunities and who
unite with us in the support of the
same flag and building up of the same
free commonwealth.
we do not wish to look upon these
people with suspicion or distrust. We
take it that having discovered for
themselves and their children. they
are willing to unite wholeheartedly
in the task OF building up this com
monwealth. To do this we must be-
come homogeneous in laws. customs,
ideals. To promote a separate move
ment, to keep us apart in speech.
customs. sources of information. and
sympathies. is bad in war or peace
But now that we are at war, it be-
comes intolerable.
"As yet, few of our sons have fall
len in battle, but soon the lists will
lengthen, and as the blood sacrifice
for what America believes to be the
cause of human liberty. begins to
press in upon our minds and hearts.
we will become less tolerant of any
hiding place where an alien enemy
or an enemy citizen may lurk and
from which he may do his deadly
work.
"You are at liberty to give this let
ter any publicity you may desire |
Meanwhile, I command procedure |
along the same wise policy you appear
to have pursued thus far.
Your truly
"E. A. BRYAN
Chairman State c. of d."