Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-27

(Written by Gustave Myerssfor the
League Of National Unity and pub
lished with, the consent ct the Com
mittee on Public lnfcrmAtton.-The
Editor.) III
Ger1nany's Most Sinister Propaganda,
Measured by its evil results the
most pernicious OF all German propa-
ganda in the United states = been
the constant eulogixing OF German
government as the supreme achlever
Of social reforms for tho welfare az tts
people.
For more than IS years this cam
paign has been ~energctically pushed,
Hindenburg. with typical Prusstan
eftrontery, sneers al, Americas ad-
vertising methods" But no govern
ment has been such an inveterate n
audacious self-hposter as that OF Ger.
many. The lies with which 1t started
the war were simply a continuation OF
the network Of lies which 1t spread
over the world of Its benef1cience
toward its hboring, farming. and
other classes. Its claims OF being the
developer and the star performer IN
philosophy, literature. music. inven-
ton and other countries with merited
derision. But in those very countries
which have treated these boasts with
contempt, widespread acceptance has
almost always been given to its claims
of being the originator. and foremost
developer Of social reforms.
/ Millions For Propaganda.
The German government has spent
tens Of millions of dollars for It's mis-
cellaneous assortment of propaganda.
But this particular kind Of propa-
ganda has cost 1t less than any other
and has produced greater results. The
lnh{Ar$ r,yn 81 1,,ont tho. Good iAAo nf
German superiority in social reform
and the superiority of the German
government system and ideas gener-
ally.
eminent as being devotedly interested
in improving the living and other con-
ditions Of its people. this propaganda
aimed at instilling a widespread
difference and admiration for the Ger
cloak Y e the brutal militarism
which essentially has been the basis
of it all. Also it gave the German
governments the reputation Of be-
nevolence while d~istracting attention
from the selfish, predatory schemes
that the %autocracy was hatching-
schemes hat were destined to bring
about h slaughter n manning OF
millions of the very people for whom
the German government professed
such tender concern.
Again. this propaganda tended to
weaken the respect and loyalty of
other peoples for their own countries.
BY presenting "a dazzling. picture OF
Germany. it has been a propaganda
the effect Of which has been to make
1t appear that, in sharp contrast with
the German government. other gov
ernments have been neglectful in car
ing for the vital welfare Of the peo-
Pile. It served to give a plausible air
where arbitrary rule goes hand in
hand with feudal castles and distinc-
tons. 1t spread the fiction that the
Interests of, the common people were
the prime consideration in Germany
when, as a matter Of fact, the voting
power is effectively concentrated in
the hands Of the rich. who In every
important instance subordinate all
other interests to their own. Using
this power to insure themselves con-
troll not: only of the German empire
but of the leading states. and cities.
the feudal rulers and the rich have
refused the common people proper
representation and have blocked
every one Of their efforts at funda-
mental and effective reforms. Tinsel
reforms for show purposes they have
allowed. but no real reforms.
Blind to Real Conditions.
1t is this PROPAGANDA that was long
responsible. and to a certain unfor-
tunate extent is still. in binding many
people to the brutalities and tyranny
of the German rulers. Having been
thus taught to look UP to the German
government as the grand exponent
and executor of social reforms. there
are still those who. imposed upon by
years of this seductive propaganda.
can not bring themselves to believe in
the horrors committed by the German
rulers. Or, If they do believe, they
consider that those atrocities are more
than counterbalahced by the German
governments alleged enlightened and
advanced social measures for it's peo-
pie. s.
Some Of those who have diffused
this propaganda in the United States
have been mere creatures Of the Ger
man government. getting their recon-
pense in some way or other. The
German professors, all subsidized