ALIENS AND DISLOYALISTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 207, 21 May 1918, Page 6

ALIENS AND DISLOYALISTS

HOW THE UNITED STATES TREATS THEM. Sir,—The National Bonrd of Fire Underwriters estimated that in 1917 fifty millions of dollars would not cover the fire damage caused by enemy incendiarists within ; the borders of 'tho United States. Not a single important war industry had escaped serious hurt. The greatness of the problem can be gauged by the fact that the last Methodist Con-

ference resolved to ask for the imposition of the death sentence upon persons found guilty of seriouely interfering with the nation's war .'ffort. Within the last fortnight the House of Ttopresentativoa and the Senate have passed such an enactment. The officials of the gTeat Ger-man-American alliance havo had "to take the stanil," as tho Yankees designate a. public examination. The examination proved that the alliance officials served Count Bernstorff and tho liquor interests. A voluntary disbandment has followed tho revelations.

Readers of tho American Press can supplement the incidents you gave last week of the quick and drastic punishment meted out to disloyalists. Through the door of an exclusive *?ew Tork club a well-dressed man was jostled, and theft rolled in the dirty snow of the roadway, as a elight warning against seditiou.l speech. For calling the Stare and Stripes a dirtv rag, a German was marched through a Southern American town en route to a destructor. The police marshal rescued him by first making him kiss tho flag he had insulted. All the sympathy the Judge gave the alien next day was the reminder of Ambassador Gerard's words: "There are more lampposts than German reservists in the United States." William Jennings Bryan resigned his great post because ho feared President Wilson would ultimately lead the nation to war. Mr. Bryan, has never lacked courage, and he now has the courage to acclaim the President's action. He has gone further. He has. mado it clear to pacifists that it ifl the bounden duty of the State to suppress any freedom of speech that will hamper the nation in its fight for life. And yet the vigour of our Ally is governed by discrimination. With over four million enemy nationals within her borders, and very many millions-' more • of enemy descent, she is acting with such fairness and judgment as to be an example to üb. The German-American towns and counties of the mid-West are filling their quota of men and money for the Allied cause. Pro-Germans have largely become pro-Allies as a result ot education. They have not been left alone. Individually their help in some form of war effort was sought. At first there were many refusals. Reasons, were requested, and a report was sent to a voluntary propaganda, headquarters. As likely as not an American of German descent would act as teacher, for there are not o few German-Americans whose faitntulness to the Allied cause has been proved by deeds. Mr. Schwab, president of the Bethlehem Steel Works, refused a million dollars bribe to cancel Allied contracts. And he is not alone. Hearken to the speech of one Hermann, Hagedorn, in an appeal he published :-

Here we Americans of German blood stand, confronting, on the one hand, the country of our origin, highly organised and admirable to the eye, yet materialistic and (if we may beli'evo her own Bernstorfts and Luxburgs) coldly corrupt at heart; and, on the other, the country of our adoption, so childish, so optimistic, so money-grubbing, and yet at bottom so idealistic, somehow so grand! m ' We stand between two maeters. We cannot servo them both, not even • in the silence of our own hearts

We have the opportunity to mnke America and the rest of.the world, even while they smite German autocracy, respect and even love men of German blood; we have the opportunity after the war to work as no one else can work for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, j Wβ have that opportunity if we take our stand firmly, squarely, and unmistakably for America and her cause. ■ , , And I soy to you most solemnly tho time has come for all of us who are of German origin and stand forth, and ■ individually and collectively publicly declare ourselves: "I, an American citizen of Germnn Wood, believe in America, my country, and the principles of liberty, equality and democracy for which sh» stands. Therefore and inevitably, I am against Germany. I wish to see my country victorious and Germany defeated. To the fulfilment of this wish I plfdßO jny hands, my heart, and my spirit.

Can we «how anything like the same discrimination? Instead of welcoming all who will give, and fight, and sutler lor the ideals for which we contend, apparently the chief purposes of our activity are, firstly, to persecute all, who beau foreign eo'unding names, ignoring proofs of lbyalty; and, secondly, to agitate {or the remission or reduction of sentences passed upon persons found guilty of disloyal or seditious utterances. There aro men and women of British birth and descent in New Zealand who have endured much' because their names aro not as British as Smith, .Tones, and fiobnison. There aro others again whose loyalty w beyond question, though their forbears caine from Hie countries of our "i?" 1 "*; There is the Bohemian settlement of Piihol in North Auckland. Mr. John l\vne, jr.P., referred to those eettlcrs m ]nrliament. Yet when the Auckland Coonerativo Bnildine Society proposed to give its first patriotic subscription out of its accumulated profits of over .£IOO.flflO, Mr. John Payne, M.P., moved Hint tho proposed subscription be reduced to 2',d.! Tho five hundred folk in Puliol riding had at; that time given to patriotic funds over .£2 per head for every man. woman and child. In another effort last January, for the Bed Cross and Y.M.C.A., these-same folk save another .PA i«>r b<-d. iiHiably a record in giving for New Zealand.

My name entitle , : me tn speak to thoso who count names more tban conduct. I cannot help wonderine what sort of a time my jrront-grnndsiro had in 1810. TCa 'μ-iis cp'rtninly allowed to fijht on the field of Waterloo. Probably common sense mid Nr.lMi justice were ehnnir cnmiijh in those dnvs to protecfliifl loyalty from slur, cvpii tlioiiTh ho was known bv tho np"ii> of tlie tlip.ii enemy. Should not isxif-intornst dictate clearer distinction now?—l am, etc., ' n. R. FRENCH.