Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-09-28
CALAMITY TO INACCURATE
GERMAN NAMERICAN LEAGUE

ericans of German origin in Wisconsin
that this German-American league
has thus far made no headway in their
state This ill-advised appeal to ra-
cial antagonisms will but foment trou-
bile and grief.
Objectionable
1t is a calamity to inaugurate such
movement at any time, but it is
doubly objectionably just now. We
had about recovered from the great
harm these same men did during the
war, aided, unwittingly, as they were,
by some super-patriots whose zeal led
them into antagonizing everything
German indiscriminately. The old
sores were healing and the old mis-
understandings were giving way to a
better spirit of good will, such as
should prevail among neighbors. Men
were beginning to acknowledge that
their fellow citizens were pretty good
Americans even though they might
bear German names. They no longer
thought of themselves as belonging
to racial group, but were again en-
jOying their common American citi-
zenship.
So this new movement of racial seq
regation for political purposes came
like a slap in the face. If successful
it will reopen the wounds of war and
inject an alien element into our do
mestic affairs, of incalculable harm.
Nor are they wise friends of Ger
many in demanding the death of the
League of Nations and a separate
peace with Germany by senate proc
lamation since only the president can
make peace. Their first demand is
fatuous Why be so stubbornly blind
to the fact that the League of Nations
is already a going concern with for
ty member states? What will these
misleaders say when Germany applies
for membership in the League and is
accepted, as she surely will be.
Want to Return!
1t seems inconceivable that these
men want return to the unthinkable
horrors of a Balance of Powers. Sup
pose Germany, Russia and Japan
should form an alliance, offensive and
defensive, against another group of
European natiOnsI Would that not
tcHu W OuI <AluSIiCdlI pcOPlc III
TO similar antagonistic alliances? Just
as an effort to unite the German-Am-
orleans and the Irish-Americans dur
ng the war, so should we see racial
groupings to match the new Europe
an Alliances, with the certainty that
sooner or later the two great alli-
ances would come to grips in a war
so terrible that it would mean the
annihilation of one or the other. And
We should inevitably be dragged into
it, with a divided country, for the
Vierecks, the Walthers and the Ger
hards of the various nations would be
perniciously active as usual stirring
up hatred, venom and bitterness.
If they were really friends of the
German people they would be work
ing for the League of Nations and
Germany's early inclusion, in order
that Germany might again take her
old place of honor among nations
The real greatness of the German
mind it best fostered by peace and in
dustry. War but reveals those less at
tractive characteristics, which have
brought Germany to the brink of ruin.
Today Germany is busy establishing
union of free republics, which are
to constitute the new Germany which
the American Friends of German De-
mocracy labored for during the Great
war and since. 1t is by assisting the
German people to build their Republic
upon an enduring foundation, that we
can best show our friendship for the
land of our fathers.
Not Always Right
1t is true, as Viereck declares, that
the Americans of German stock have
not always taken the position that
they should in political matters. But
he looks in the wrong direction for
the reason and the remedy 1t is this
same separatist spirit that is at fault,
which kept men hugging the ideals of
the Vaterland instead of wholeheart-
edly embracing those of America. Carl
Schurz failed not of political honor in
our country But Carl Schurz had the
right attitude of mind. He said, Ger
many is my mother, but America is my
bride. Fortunately. the great MAORI
ty of Americans of German stock have
the same commendable love for our
country. There are only few, like