Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-25
(By G. S. s~trandvold.)

= In the summer Of 1914 just after
the first declaration Of war burst up
on a rather unsuspecting world. the
writer CHANGED to overhear q heated
conversation between two German.
who were standing in a crowd in
Times Square. New York. watching
news bulletins. - =
'Nein. helm one Of them kept on
saying. "erst sind wir Deutsche. dem
sozialisten: Germany lis o to us
at that"
"Aber-aber," the other man per-
sisted, haven't we been taught that
first Of all we are Socialists. and then
Germans-erst sind wir Sozialisten,
denn Deutsche"?
"Gewiss!" replied the nrst, "but
when Jul country fights, Socialism
has no claim on US. Even II we lose
in the end-which we cannot, though
Socialism is bound to be only 6
ond in our feelings Our Vaterland
is first all the time.
That's all tommyrot',' the second
speaker retorted; whether we win or
lose. Germany and all the rest of the
world will become socialistic. You
simply can't stop 1t. German social
!aso 3so S.soAS Ao", aHdtA my "O.u'
they will be even stronger when de-
feated. and for that reason it will do
U old country a world of good to
be crushed by her enemies"
Expressions Typical.
Tho opposite statements Of the two
lnen so interested the listener that he
jotted them down for later reference,
and the other day they suddenly
~ANaA - NS~Ak A-Af-# S> 80 ->to
book. With almost five years elapsed
since then, with Germany crushed.
and with the socialistic party in pow
er. the discussion overheard that Au-
gust day assumes the character of
being, : on one side, typical, on the
other, <unconsciously prophetic:
German Socialists, are strong now,
mark my word. they will be even
stronger when defeated, and for that
reason it will do bur old country a
world Of good to be crushed by her
The sentiment may not have been a
very patriotic one from a German
point Of view, but undoubtedly 1t was
characteristic Of the attitude Of a
large number Of people in Germany
and elsewhere. r
In other words. it was the principle
Of nationalism and that Of interna-
which had a little clash
quite unostentatiously, but very sig
During the period Of ths~war Itself.
tnternationalism was relegated to the
background. The burning problem Of
the fight was that Of nationalism, and
this principle formed the foundation
Of the ideas which were outlined in
the twenty-seven armistfce and peace
conditions enunciated by the Ameri-
can. and seconded by most of the
European. governments.
National Traits Strong.
In England, France and Belgium.
in Austria, Turkey and Germany. in
the United States, Italy, Rumania.
and many other countries the nation
al consciousness was the u%pperlnost
Of all feelings among the peoples.
Whom the famous doctrine Of self
determination was formulated, 1t was
based upon nationality and not upon
internationalism.
Half forgotten, demands were re-
Ukraine n to become nations again:
Italia %Irredenta is TO be redeemed:
Delmatians and Checko. Slovaks will
have. their nationalistic independence
recognized; the Danes in Siesvig, the
French In Alsace.Lorraine, the
Swedes on the Aatdnd islands all have
pleaded for the only concession they
consider worth having: To be, re.
united with their own.
In 1915 tho Vienna congress at
tempted to divide Europe according
to boundary lines and political be-
,ltefs. Emperors. kings and dukes
were the dominating personages at
that famous peace assembly.
In 1919 the Paris congress recog-
nizes that It cannot follow, in the
steps Of its grea t predecessor: II
realizes the necessity Of taking the
principle OF nationalism. into account.
characterization After the War;.
Political internationalism kept
somewhat under cover during the
actual fighting. its spokesmen evil
IDENTIFY gathering that 1t would be In
opportune to press any demands Of
that kind while the guns were still
speaking But Al soon a. silence
rcigned on the battle fields. interna,
tionalism reared its head and made
its presence felt In nearly all tho
European countries. and has even