South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-21
Wants 'Kultuf" Fostered and
World NJ d e to See
Through German Eyes.

what are the duties OF the Amer
can German language press? What,
ia the opinion OF a citizen OF Ger
many, should be the attitude OF that
press?
otto Sperber. a resident OF Ores
den, answers that question from the
viewpoint Of a German citizen in a
recent issue Of Deutsche Politik, a
German political review. From that
viewpoint he finds that there are FIVE
major lines OF duty which the Ger
minded editor must follow.
First. he must aCcentuate the
common interests Of all Germans,
UNFOLDING German ideals and Ger
mar kultur. Second. he must urge
all men OF German descent 70 send
their children 10 German schools.
Third. he must come 10 the defense
OF the German name. Fourth. he
must discourage aping Of foreign
customs. especially English or
French customs. Finally, he must
break loose from party ties and
urge voters 70 vote as German rather
than as political partisans.
Readers of The News-Times will
remember that these five demands
were among the planks OF the con-
stitutiOn OF the defunct National
German-American alliance. and are
now championed by the German
American Citizens league. All OF
them are still being followed in one
form or another by the German Ian
guage press.
..Stiu Our Dear Fathcrland."
Mr.. Sperber says IN part:
The interests OF the numerous
Germans emigrating TO many coun-
a ..
tendency OF the older German resi-
dents TO give up their German ma
tional character is favored by the
political powerlessness of the father
land. 1t is worth while TO maintain
and strengthen respac. for the old
fatherland, and a comprehension OF
the immense work that is necessary
for its rebuilding. and this can be
done by objective representation of
the condition Of Germany and of the
mighty difficulties that Germany has
to overcome. II Is also worth while
10 emphasize that while forms OF
government may change-tO our JOY
or our orrow-nevertheless Ger
many is still our dear fatherland
whittier our thoughts and affections
always turn, whether her head IS
hereditary or elected.
must be left 10 the country itself.
OF course a German in a foreign
country should have his opinion in
these matters. and may therefore de-
mand from his press that IL instruct
him definitely. promptly and thor
oughly on all important political
questions, but a German newspaper
for Germans in n foreign land must
not be a party sheet. It's principal
task must always be 10 accentuate
the common interests, of all Ger
mans I'm foreign countries, to bring
out their common Ideals. and above
all 70 be loyal protector and con-
fidant for all movements having for
their purpose in any way the main
tanning and furthering OF German
culture and economic interests. Most
important Of such movements are
German schools, clubs and economic
organizations.
Foster German Schools.
The interests OF the German
schools, in particular, must be aided
by the press. II viii, on the one
hand. instruct its readers in their
duty as Germans 10 send their chill
dren 10 German schools. and, on
the other hand, fulfill it's own duty
as an organ of frankness by real
progressive criticism OF the German
school system, and by giving oppor-
tunity for the exchange of opinions
on suitable subjects
Finally, there can and will bC
occasions when the press must adj
mOnish earnestly and even sharply
against known evils. particularly
when IL treats anything that touches
the honor and reputation of the
German name AS an pXamDle OF
such possibilities let us mention only
the well-known tendency TO relapse
into our old national evil OF foreign
ness. that is, the CharaCterless
worthless imitation Of foreign, and
especially English or French. Gus
toms. and the preference for foreigr