Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-08-30
LUTHER ANISM VS..
I PAN-GERMAN ANISM
An Interview With Lutheran Pastor
in Which He States the Attitude of
His Church Toward Pan-German-
ism-Lutheran Church of Missouri
Synod 100 Per Cent American.

The Rev. o. G. Hebestreit, pastor
of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod
of Missouri congregations in Clinton,
German and York townships, in a re-
cent interview with the Tribune,
stated very clearly the attitude of his
church toward the pan-German, or
Junker party that is directing the
state affairs of Germany at the pres
ent time, and demonstrated why ne
considered the denomination which ne
represents as one hundred per cent
American. In giving the official atti-
tude of his church IN this matter the
Rev. Mr.. Hebestreit quoted from the
statement of Frederick Brand, third
vice president of the national organi-
zation Of this church, as follows:
Pan-Germanism is that doctrine Of
German hignbrows, chiefly of the mil
itary and university caste, which
holds that by process of evolution the
German race OF today is at the pres
ent apex OF human development;
that the Germans are the chosen peo-
pie of God upon earth, that in all
branches ol seisltlnc knowledge, and
chieny IN che science of statecraft,
that nation mas rlsen to an altitude
hIGherto miattta.ned by any other
people; thai Dy virtue of the biologi-
cal law Oh seleclon it must assume
the supremacy over all other nations
on the ealth, overrunning and absorb
ing the Germanlstlc states, and sub
JugaJlng and crushing all inferior
peoples in their opposition to the ter
ritCll&l and commercial aggrandize-
msnt of the German nation. One
means to the coveted end is the plant
u.g OF German colonies in foreign
countries and making them the fer
tile seed OF the future Pan-Germar
empire of the world. These colonies
should be subsidized by the mother
country and kept in constant touch
with it by appeal to natural affinit,
and to German Kultur. in order e
realize this Pan-German world EN-
pire, every means is not only permis
slble, but imperative, because "a
state cannot commit a crime" (Las
son), and "The German people is al
ways right, because it is the German
people, and because it numbers eighty
seven millions" lotto Won Tannen
berg).
This definition of Pan-G -Germanisn
does not exhaust all the ideals an,
aims of that cult, but may suffice TO
our present purpose.
1t is generally accepted that tn
Pan. German or Junker party is a
the helm of the German ship of stat
today. Not the German nation u
such, but a German war-party, ther
is waging the war. Following ou
President, we Americans should lear
to distinguish between that party an
the German people. This would ex
plain much of what has seemed
mystery to US Americans of Germa
extraction in the present world wan
both as regards the Central Power
and the universal opposition to then
1t can scarcely be doubted that tn
doctrine Of Pan-Germanism is bein
practiced by Prussia in the presen
crisis. Because of this Pan-Germar
ism so many erstwhile neutral ns
tions have entered the lists agains
Junkerism and we with them. Ever
single state arrayed against the in
perial German empire has asserte
her opposition on the ground of ths
unfriendly and overbearing milital
istic conduct, the world-dominio
Prussian policy.
This very point is stressed b
President Wilson in his memorial az
dress to Congress on April 2, 1911
Says he: American ships have bee
sunk, American lives taken in man
was, which it has stirred us deepl
to learn Of; but the ships and peop
of other neutral and friendly nation
have been sunk and overwhelmed
the same way. There has been I
discrimination. The challenge is
all mankind. Each nation must d
eide for itself how it will meet it.
There is one choice v
cannot make, we are incapable
making: We will not suffer the mo
sacred rights of our nation and Of
people to be ignored and violated
Our object is to vindica
the principles of peace and justice
the life Of the world as against SCI
ish and autocratic power.
Neutrality is no longer feasible
desirable where the peace of the wor
is involved, and the freedom Of
peoples, and the menace Of that pea
aud freadorn lies in the existenca