Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-01-21
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT
AND THE GERMAN PEOPLE
10y William English wallins)


can people toward the German people
and our attitude toward the German
government are two separate and dis
tlnct things. The president has lost
no opportunity to voice the American
position in this matter. In all Of his
addresses since the beginning of the
war he has touched upon this distinc-
ton. But he has only been able TO
discuss limited phases of this great
and vitality important subject in eacn
speech; It Is only when We put all Of
his references to the German people
together that we realize how COM
pletely he has stated the feeling of
America.
Let us show briefly how the presi-
dent has stated QD the relation Of
the German government to the Ger
man people. (2) the attitude of the
German people toward its government
and toward the present war (S) the
Keeling fthe people of the United
States toward the German people, and
"a the reasons why we are at present
engaged in fighting both the German
government and the german people.
I. German Government and German
People
In his message calling for deClara-
ton of war against German, Presi-
dent Wilson spoke of the German gov
eminent as one that did what 1t
pleased and told the people nothing"
and further referred to that govern
ment as an "autocracy backed by
organized force which is controlled
wholly by its WILL and not by the will
of it's people"
Since this great address the presi-
dents references to the character OF
the German government and its atti
tude toward the German and other
peoples have been frequent. One quo
tation from his Flag Day speech (June
14) will be sufficient to define his well
known position:
''The war was begun by The military
masters of Germany, who proved to bc
also the masters of Austri8-HunGary
These men have never regarded ma
tons as peoples. men, women, ant
children of like blood and frame al
themselves, for whom government!
existed and in whom government
had their life. They have regarde,
them merely as serviceable organiza
tons which they could, by force o
intrigue, bend or corrupt to their owl
purpose"
u. The Position Of the German People
The president has carefully and re
peatedly stated the tragic position o.
the German people * the present mo
ment as we Americans see 1t. He has
said that this people did not originate
choose. or desire this hideous war, 90,
wish that We should be drawn into it.
(June 1D. 1T was not upon theii
impulse that their government acteC
in entering the war. 1t was not witt
their previous knowledge or approval
april 81
The president has gone out of hi:
way to pay n sincere tribute TO tn,
sterling qualities of the German pee
pie as recognized by the overwhclmini
majority of Americans. In his address
to the American Federation of Labo
at Buffalo (Nov. 13) he said:
81 believe that the spirit of freedom
can get into the hearts of Germans
and find as fine welcome there as I
can find in any other hearts, but tn
spirit OF freedom does not suit TIA
plans Of the pan.German6."
But II is not necessary for us T.
enter further into the virtues or othe
characteristics of the German peopl,
The essential question involved /
their attitude toward the people G
America. The president has btate
at the very beginning OF the war tina
we did not believe that the Germa
people cherished toward us "any hOg
tile feeling or purpose" CAprll o.
~. The Attitude Of America Towar
the German people
Feeling that It was impossible thu
the German people, apart from tn
German ruling classes can. or did. ha
Dor any hostility toward America Cse
above), the president thus espresso
the general conviction that I'VE ar
not the enemies of the German ne,
pie and they are not our enemies.
(June 14.)
The belief is almost universal in thi
country that I'VE are fighting thoi
cause as they will some day sec It, a
well as our own" June ~
In the opening message of the wa
the president categorically declared :
we have no quarrel with the Go
man people We have no feeling Il
ward them but one OF sympathy ~
friendship"