Campbellsport News, May 27, 1915

DUTY IS TO
UNITED STATES
EDITOR OF THE DODGE COUNTY
BANNER TELLS NEED
OF LOYALTY

  The Mayville Dodge County Banner, a German semi-weekly newspaper, in its current issue publishes a patriotic editorial on the duty of German-Americans, entitled In Ernster Strunde (At a Grave Hour,) written by its editor, Dr. Hans H. Forkmann, a naturalized citizen. He emphasizes that sympathy with Germany is not incompatible with whole-soled loyalty to his adopted country. A translation follows:
   "That our hearts beat strong for the cause of the German empire in its great struggle for existence, we need not deny. It is the call of the blood, it is the sacred tie that binds the sons in distant lands to their mother.
   "But a more sacred bond than this--the bond sealed with our oath--the bond of eternal gratitude and loyalty holds us fast to the bosom of Columbia, the bride of our choice.
   "The German fatherland presents today the spectacle of a great, a mightly unison without parties, without selfish interests, without selfish aims.
   "The United States of America, too, when the nation's welfare is at state, is just as unified.
   "The Stars and Stripes which float above us symbolize a people united in their ideals and standing for right, freedom and peace.
   "We German-Americans are not a jot behind in this. There was a time when German blood flowed in streams to preserve the Union, and German blood in all these years has pulsated swiftly through the veins of this people--for its weal! for our weal!
   "We came here of our own free will, and voluntarily renounced our allegiance to other sovereigns, and this nation granted us its highest honor: Citizenship.
   "German fidelity stands back of our oath as a guardian of the national emblem.
   "And Columbia has been good to us. Under her shelter have we grown; under her liberties have we learned to unfold our wings; our children grow into the love for their American fatherland. Here we see the ideals of our youth nearing realization.
   "Truly, our love belongs, as does our gratitude, first of all to the starry banner.
   "Therefore must our people, in stormy days, in heart and deed, be united, a nation of brothers, as is Germany.
   "Wherefore we stand to a man back of our government--not because we belong to this or that party, but because we are Americans.
   "The hour must not, shall not come, when German fidelity to the land of our choice shall fall.
   "Indeed the hour is bitterly serious! It may be we do not realize just how serious it is!
   "May that day never dawn, when we shall be forced to choose between the mother and the bride. But should that dread day appear, this one thing stands fixed--and woe to him who dares to doubt it:
   "Our sympathy is with Germany, yet our loyalty is, and remains with America, now and for all time!
   "This is our firm resolve."

(Scans courtesy Alan Krueger)