The Starkville news., 1918-06-14

We are fighting Germany for the
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 if we are defeated we are lost, but
before the war started did Germany
menace those things we hold most sa-
cred9"
Let the Germans themselves answer.
After you have read the evidence out
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 It was Incorporated
by act of congress. It's charter Is
now being attacked i'm that same body.
One of the objects Of the alliance, as
tivistic encroachments." In other
words, to keep the Germans from be-
coming Americans. Another object
was ''to awaken and strengthen the
sense Of unity among the people Of
German origin in America"
'This alliance" It's preliminary
statement of aims concludes, sfs
pledged to bring It's entire organiza-
tion to the support Of any state fed
GRAFTON which is engaged in the strug-
gle for any of these objects"
It was pledged, in other words, to
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 "natfvistic
encroachments," was particularly alb
horrent to American ideals, because
the effort i'm this country has always
been to keep politics free from racial
or religious influences. Yet here was
a body, proclaiming itself German in
origin and thought. seeking to perpetu-
ate this German feeling In the midst
of America.
From Its very start the alliance
sought to foment discord with England.
1t always spoke OF the American press
as 'tthe Anglo-American" press, and 1t
carried out long and well-directed
campaign for the Introduction or the
German language into the schools and
its use In civil life.
"The National Alliance" according
to an issue of it's Official Bulletin be-
fore this nation entered the war, sis
waging war against Angio-Saxonisn,
against the fanatical enemies OF per-
sonal liberty and political freedom. Ii
Is combating narrow-minded, benight-
ed know-nothingism, the influence OF
the British. and the enslaving Puritan
ism, which had its birth in England
"The race war which we will bs
compelled to 60 through with on Amer
ican soil will be our world war" said
the New York Staats Zeitung In fight
ing a proposal to amend the New York
constitution to make ability to speak
and write the English language
requisite for suffrage.
Ludwig Fulda wrote book, "Amer-
lean Impressions" They were inn
pressions of German who had stud
led this nation with view to seeing
it ultimately Germanized. GERMAN
ization is synonymous with causing to
speak German" he said, "and speak
ing German means to remain German.
Wherever there were signs OF dis
content, of a movement which might
+HSi0 Nnnn$rv Anv
other which Germany might find as q
commercial rival, the German-Ameri-
can alliance was sure to be on the
Job. It gave support to the Irish
American societies, because these soci-
cites. before the war. were working for
the separation Of Ireland from Eng
land, a matter In which Germany, at
that time, could have no legitimate
interest. But Germany, even then,
was preparing for war, and was doing
every possible thing to weaken Its
coming enemies. A disorganized
America one filed with German re-
servists, would be In no position TO
side with her enemies, Germany ng-
ured. On this subject the much-quoted
Bernhardi wrote:
measures must be taken at least
to the extent Of providing that the
German element Is not split up In the
world. but remains united In compact
blocks, and thus forms, even In Tor
eign countries, political centers OF
gravity I'm our favor. The isolated
groups of Germans abroad greatly benz
| eft our trade, since by preference they
| obtain goods from Germany; but they
may also be useful TO us politically, an
| N.