Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-01-15
STRAWBERRY POINT PREACHER
SHOWS HIS COLORS.
(Des MOines Register,)

| (DeS MOlueS lte6lSL0I.J
The letters sent out recently to the
ministers of Iowa, asking them to
help in putting on the Armenian, Syr-
ian and Jewish relief fund campaign,
succeeded in stirring up some rabid
pro4German sentiment at Strawberry
Point.
The Rev. Colt Fritschel of that
town replied to DR.. J. E. Kirbye, Sec
rotary of the drive, as follows:
your circular letter received. In
reply to the same I wish to say that
as long as our country declines to
help those starving in Germany, and
are replying to their petition for food,
"Tell them to 60 to hell,"-our congre-
cation is not in a position to help in
your drive. AS long as the privilege
of Galatians 6-1O is denied US, whether
enemy or not, we can do nothing. AS
soon as true Christian principle is
upheld you will find us doing our
SHARE"
Answer to FritscheL
DR.. Kirbye has reported the letter
to the council of defense, and has sent
the Rev. Fritschel the following reply:
1T is quite evident to anyone who
reads your communication, where
your sympathies have been during the
war. wonder whether you realize
the responsibilities that rest upon the
German people, for the miseries Of the
present hour. Certainly, as a minister,
you are not unmindful of Belgium's
misories caused by the Prussian ar
mics. / wonder whether you have
spoken against the awful crimes per-
petrated against the Belgian and
French people. What did you say
when the German authorities were
stealing money from Belgian banks
and leyying tribute upon the Belgian
cities?
When they were numbering defense
less men and women, outraging girls,
and then strutting about with all the
authority of high heaven-what did
you say about the conduct Of German
officers and men who were doing these |
things? Not only this, but you are
certainly intelligent enough to know
that the poverty and hunger and de-
struction of all Europe we're caused
by Germanys ambition for power.
No Protest From Germany.
an 1915 the Turkish government
began the massacres upon the defense
less and subject races within its
bounds. One million of Armenian
men were slain, and the fairest wo-
men Of those defenseless people were
conscripted for the sexual use Of the
Turkish armies, and similar outrages
were perpetrated upon the Greeks and
Jews. There was not day when
these outrages could not have been
stopped by the German government.
"Not one word was ever given out
from Berlin asking and demanding
of Turkey that she cease those barr
barities. We are not going to forget
those who are responsible for these
crimes. The United States, Great
Britain, France and Italy and all our
allies are trying to bring order out of
chaos. Germany has been defeated
in her designs. The task Of recon-
struction is big one
Il note what you say as to Ger
many's appeal for food 1t has not
been proven that Germany is suffering
as Armenia or Russia or the Jewish
peoples. The reports from our armies
indicate that the scarcity of food is no
greater than it is in France or in Eng
land. There are world shortages, of
course, and there must of necessity
be suffering during these winter
months, but the great need does not
lie in Germany.
Belongs in Germany.
"The great need is in the near east,
among the defenseless and SD bject
peoples of the past. Germany must
reinstate herself in the life If the
world through penitence and practice
of the common principle of civiliza
ton and Christianity; and you, and
others like you, show the contempt
ible spirit of the bully when you at
tempt to put her claims first Crowd
ing herself to the front with her false
pleas for consideration is the browning
act Of her despicable cowardice and
infamy. My own personal Judgment
is that you should be in Germany and
not in America"
FOURTH CLASS POSTMASTER EX.