Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-06
Why We Fight
No. .
Because Germany for Years Sought
to Undermine Our Government
end Our Ideals
BY CLARENCE n. SPEED

ny SLAREN&E L. oEEfI)
Secretary Of the War Committee of the
Union League Club OF Chicago.
We are fighting Germany for the
right to live our own lives as we see
fit. We are fighting for our laws. our
ideals, our homes, our institutions.
"But. how" one may ask. "were all
| these things threatened by Germany
before the war started? 1t Is easy to
see how they may be threatened now,
| for IL We are defeated we are lost, but
before the war started did Germany
menace those things we hold most sa.
| cred?'
Let the Germans themselves answer.
/ After You have read the evidence ont
of their own mouths, you may decide
whether or not Germany planned to up
set our institutions, our ideals, our very
mode of life.
In 1901 the National German Ameri-
can alliance was formed in the United
States. In 1907 1t was Incorporated
by act Of congress. It's charter Is
now being attacked in that same body.
One Of the objects Of the alliance. rs
officially announced. was ITO check ma
tivistic entertainments" IN other
words, to keep the Germans from be.
coming Americans. Another object
was ito awaken and strengthen the
sense of unity among the people OF
German origin in America"
This alliance its preliminary
statement Of aims concludes, 'is
pledged to bring its entire organiza'
tion to the support Of any state fed
eraton which is engaged in the strug
gle for any Of these objects"
II was pledged. In other words t6
have its members vote. not as individ
uals, but as German controlled units
for or against anthing of which
they did not approve.
The desire for resisting "nativistit
encroachments," was particularly ah
horrent to American ideals, because
the effort in this country has always
been to keep politics free from racial
or religious influences. Yet here was
body, pr0claiming itself German 10
origin and thought, seeking to perpetu.
ate this German feeling in the midst
Of America.
From its very start the alliance
sought to foment dlscord with England
II always spoke Of the American press
as "the Anglo-American" press and II
carried out long and well-directed
campaign for the introduction Of the
German language into the schools and
its use in civil life.
"The National Alliance" according
to an issue of its official Bulletin be-
fore this nation entered the war, "is
waging war against Anglo-Saxonism
against the fanatical enemies Of per-
sonal liberty and political freedom, /
Is combating narrow-minded, benight
ed know-nothingism. the influence OF
the British. and the enslaving Puritan
ism, which had its birth in England.
"Thp race war which we will ht
compelled to 60 through with on Amer
lean soil will be our world war" salt
the New York Stats Xeitung in fight
in. "A proposal to amend the New Yorl
constitution to make ability to spcal
and write the English language 9
requisite for suffrage.
Ludwig Fulda wrote book. "Amer
lean Impressions They were i'm
presSions Of II German who had stud
led this nation with a view to seein'
1t ultimately Gerinani2ed, German
ization Is SYNONYMOUS with causing Il
speak German" he said. sand speak
ing German means to remain German.
Wherever there were signs of dis
content, of movement which Nigh
tend TO disrupt this country or an
other which Germany might find rs
commercial rival. the Gcrman-Amerl
can alliance was sure to be on til
Job. II gave support to the Irish
American societies. because these soel
cites, before the war, We're working 10
the separation Of Ireland from Enl
land, matter In which Germany, n
that time. could have no legtimat
interest. But Germany, even ther
was preparing for war, und was doin
every possible thing to weaken II
coming enemies. A disorganize
America, one filled with German r.
servists. would be in no position I
side with her enemies, Germany fis
ured. On this subject the much-quote
, Eernhardi wrote:
enclosures must be taken ut leas
, to the extent OF providing that tn
German element IL not split up in IN
world, but remains united In compat
blocks, and thus forms, even in fol
: eign countries. political centers Z
gravity In our favor. The isolate
!. groups of Germans abroad greatly bei
|. EFT our trade, since by preference the
obtain goods from Germany but the