Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1917 — LITTLE DISLOYALTY IN U. S. [ARTICLE]

LITTLE DISLOYALTY IN U. S.

Many Reports Published That Are Without Foundation. One cau not pick up a newspaper nowadays without seeing one or more reports of some act of unpatriotism or disloyalty from all parts of the And one might thug be led to think that this country was fairly alive with agents of the kaiser and foes to free government.

But when the matter is carried a little further and some one takes occasion to investigate these reports, about nine out of every ten are found to be without any foundation whatever. Of course, it is not denied that there are secret agents of foreign governments in this country, but they are not making any public displays of their proclivities. | Only recently it was currently reported that a prominent citizen of German ancestry was flying the German flag at his home and defied the authorities to interfere, and for a brief time stories were rife as to what action should be taken. Yet when the matter was .investigated the report was found to be without any foundation whatever and the gentleman referred to 'was perhaps as staunch in his-pa-triotism as any of us. j One day early in the week the ' newspapers published reports that Henry Arndt of Tippecanoe county .was flying a German flag and when his neighbors reported the matter to the sheriff, the officer told them to shoot down the flag and arrest Arndt. The story was given con- ' siderable publicity, but now Mr. i Arndt comes out with a signed statement in the newspapers proclaiming his loyalty to the Stars .and Stripes and- saying that he I never has had a German flag in jhis possession; that “the American j flag is my flag and the only flag 'for me. If war comes, between America and Germany, I am ready [and willing to assist my country in every way my age will permit.’ 4 I There are many millions of citijzens in? this country of German ancestry who no doubt have a deep and undying love for the German people but who are yet loyal to the United States. That the Ger' mans of this country are at this time torn and rent asunder by conflicting emotions one can not deny, and such ‘is not at all surprising. | Their feelings -at this time are no doubt quite accurately described lby the following extracts from a i letter Written by a German resident and published in-the Chicago Tribune. Whether we can agree with him in all particulars or not, we must concede that his words are sincere and his motives pure. The ! statement follows in part: j “My emotions tell me one thing at this awful time, but my reason tolls me other things. ' As a German by birth it is a horrible calamity that I may have to fight Geri mans. That is natural, is it not so? But as an American by preference I can see no other course open. “For twenty-five years Germany has shown dislike for the United States—the Samoan affair, the Hongkong contretemps, the Manila bay incident, the unguarded words of the kaiser himself, and, lastly, the Haitian controversy in 1914. “Whether it is rijhrt or not, pleasant or not, the fact remains that the interests of the two countries have frequently conflicted. And it has not been from mere commercial or diplomatic friction. It is because their ideals of government are absolutely opposite. One or the other must go down. It is for us to say now which it shall be. “Because of my birth and feelings beyond nly control I have no particular love for the, French, and less for the British. But by a strange irony of fate I see those nations giving their blood for principles which I hold dear, agaihst the wrong principles of people I individually love. “It is a very unhappy paradox, but . one I cannot escape. ‘ I do not want, to see the allies triumph over , the land of my birth. But I do very much want to see the triunuph of the ideals they fight for. “It Sickens my sou] to think of this nation going forth to help destroy .people, many of whom are bound to me by ties of blood and friendship. But it must be sb. It is like a dreadful surgical operation. The militaristic, undemocratic demon which rules Germany must be cast out. It is for us to do it—now.’’ .

In India th© castor oil plant grows to a considerable height and is almost a tree. In England it seldom attains a height of more than three or four feet. In the United States it grows to three or four times that height in new ground or where cultivated. Palestine, or the Holy Land, is not in size or physical characterise tics proportioned to its moral and historical position as the theater of the most momentous events in the world’s history. It is less than 140 miles in length and barely forty miles in average breadth. The shortage of, horses in Ireland together with the increased agricultural activity, has attracted much attention to tractors and motor plows.