The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-07-18
Why We Fight
Becsuse Germany for Years Sou{hs
10 Undermine Our Government
and Our Ideals
BY CLARENCE L. SPEED
Secretary Of the War Committee Of the
Union League Club Of Chicago.

By CLARENCE L. SPEED
Secretary of the Wa 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" m may ask, "were all
these things threatened by Germany
before the war started? It 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.
cred?"
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 u 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. Its charter is
now being attacked in that same body.
One of the objects of the alliance, as
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
n Of unity among the people Of
German origin in America"
*This alliance its preliminary
statement of aims concludes, "is
pledged t bring its entire organiza-
ton to the support of any state fed
Grafton which is engaged in the strug-
gle for any of these objects"
1t was pledged, in other words. to
have its members vote, not as individ-
uals, but as German controlled units,
for or against anthins of which
they did not approve.
The desire for resisting "nativistic
encroachments," was particularly alb
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
q body. proclainins 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 the AngloAmerican" press. and it
carried out a long and well-directed
campaign for the Introduction of the
German language into the schools and
its use in civil life.
1.-THE National Alliance" according
to an issue Of its official Bulletin be
fore this nation entered the war. lis
wasins way against Anclo-Saxonism.
against the fanatical enemies Of per
sonal liberty and political freedom. 1t
is combating naTrow-minded. henisht-
ed Row-nnthinSiSrn. the influence OF
the British, and the enSlaving Puritan.
ism, which had its birth in England"
aThe race war which we will be
compelled to go through With on Amer
lean soil will he our world war" said
the New York Stats Zeitung in fight.
ing a proposal 10 amend the New York
constitution TO make ability 10 speak
and write the English language 8
requisite for suffrage
Ludwig FT,lda wrote q book. "Amer-
lean Impressions" They were inn
pressians OF q German who had stud
iea this nation With a view to seeing
it ultimately GerTnanized. German.
izarion IS Synonyn,ous with causing ia
speak German" he said. "and speak.
ing German nea TO remain German"
Wherever there were signs Of dis
content. Of q movement which might
tend to disrupt this country. o. any
other which Germany might ind as a
commercial rival. the G~erman-Ameri-
can alliance was sure to be on the
Job. Ii gave support to the Irish.
American societies, because these soci.
cites. before the war, were working fo,
the separation Of Ireland from Eng.
Lang, & matter in which Germany, a.
that time, could have no legitimate
Interest But Germany, even then
was preparing for and was doing
every possible thing to weaken Its
America. one filed With German re
sa-vists. would be in no position Il
side with her enemies, Germany fr
u-ed. On this subject the much-uuotei
Bernhard wrote:
=, Measures must be taken at leas1
to the extent Of providing that the
German element is not split up In the
world. but remains united in compac,
blocks, and thus forms, even in for
esn countries, political centerS q.
gravity in our favor. The isolarei
groups Of Germans abroad greatly ben
! cit our trade, since by preference they
obtain goods from Germany; but they
may also he useful to US politically, a.
. we discover in America The German
: Americans have formed q political nj
; lance with the Irish; and, thus
, united. constitute 3 power in the state
with which the American government
must reckon"
With the outbreak Of the war in En-