Not less striking the influence of Germany's philosophy and her
Pan-German empire scheme upon her diplomats in foreign countries.
We need not take the opinion of the British or Belgian, the French
or American authors. It is enough to ask for the testimony of the
Germans themselves. One of the most important documents bearing
upon this war is a volume of reminiscences published seven years
before the war began, but practically unknown in the United States.
This volume is entitled "Experiences at a German Embassy; ten years
of German-American diplomacy," by Emil Witte, late counsellor of
litigation; Leipzig, 1907. Probably not more than two or three thousand
of the author's friends ever bought a copy of this book, but the volume
spreads out before us like a black map the fact that for ten years von
Holleben and Münsterberg with their German associates were steadily
building up the organization of all German Americans preparatory to a
time when the war between the United States and Germany would partake
the character of a Civil War.
This counsellor of litigation tells us that on the German day, October
6, 1901, Germanism in the United States was organized at Philadelphia.
The diplomat then tells us how, directed by the German Ambassador, he
went up and down the United States organizing in New York, Brooklyn,
Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and St. Louis the German Soldiers'
Societies of the United States, and wooing the German-Americans over
to the point where they would see that their first allegiance was
to the Fatherland, their second to the United States. The German
foreign office and the Kaiser were constantly sending von Holleben
for German-Americans flags, decorations, gracious letters, medals,
invitations to visit Germany and meet the Royalty--methods that
culminated in the German law that made it possible for pro-Germans
in this country and for their sons despite American citizenship to
keep their German citizenship with all the rights of suffrage in the
Fatherland. Very significant also one sentence in these reminiscences
of this German diplomat: "The relations between Official Germany and
the emigrant subjects of the Emperor, whether they have become citizens
of the Republic or not, may lead to serious complications between
Germany and the United States, and to unforeseen incidents which at any
moment may involve both powers in serious difficulty."
No scholar longer doubts that the German government fully expected
that when war was declared some six or eight thousand German-Americans
belonging to the German Societies in the United States would bring
about something akin to Civil War. This is not to be wondered at in
view of the fact that for years Germany's official representatives had
been receiving from time to time honours and addresses from the Kaiser
and sending back to Berlin cablegrams pledging undying faithfulness and
loyalty, and affirming their purpose to enthrone German culture in the
United States. This diplomat quotes in full the address of the German
Ambassador in behalf of the Kaiser on presenting the German colours to
the German Military Society of Chicago.
"Greetings from the German Emperor! That is the cry with which I come
before you. His Majesty, my most gracious master, has ordered me to
hand to you to-day the colour which has been desired by you so strongly
and for so long. The colour is a token of his Majesty's approval with
which the Kaiser remembers in love and friendship those who have served
in the German Army and Navy, and those who have fought and bled for the
Fatherland. This colour is to be the symbol of German faithfulness,
German manliness and German military honour. His Majesty asks you to
accept this colour as a token of that unity which should prevail among
all German soldiers, to act also abroad [Think of that "abroad," in
Chicago!] in accordance with the sentiments of German loyalty and
German sense of duty, and to take for your maxim the word of that great
German, Bismarck: We Germans fear God, but nothing else in the world.
Now let the colour flutter in the wind. In this moment of enthusiasm
let us all sound the cry that is now on the lips of every old German
soldier; his Majesty, the German Emperor, William II, hurrah, hurrah,
hurrah!"
The history of no country contains plot so astounding! Under cover
of hospitality the German guest was planting bombshells in the home
of his host. With infinite cunning, the German diplomats built a
German kingdom within our kingdom. How thoroughly they alienated many
German-Americans is proven to-day by this fact, that many members of
the German Societies in the United States, the moment any American
comes out against Germany, break with the banker, drop the newspaper,
give up the pew in the church, for while their lips announce that they
are Americans, in their heart they feel that their first loyalty is to
the Kaiser, and not to our government.