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Show OTTO KAHN A GREAT AMERICAN No one man has done more to favorably fav-orably Influence the foreign population in this country during the war than Otto H. Kahn, who, soon after tho declaration dec-laration of war last April, made an address ad-dress to those of German birth, urging urg-ing them to stand solidly for right, as proclaimed by tho United Slates. On last Sunday evening, addressing a mass meeting in Milwaukee-, a German Ger-man city, Mr. Kahn said: In tho gloomy and accusing procession pro-cession of infinite sorrow and pain inflicted on Americans of German descent the iron has entered en-tered our side. We havo been wantonly robbed of valuable possessions pos-sessions which have come down to us through the centuries; we havo been rendered ashamed of that in which we took pride; we have been mado the enemies of those of our own blood; our very names carry the sound of a challenge to tho world. Surely we have all too valid a title to rank among those most bitterly aggrieved by Prussianism, and to a align ourselves our-selves in the very forefront of thoso fighting to rid the world . forever of that malignant growth. I do not seek forgiveness for my German birth. I am proud of the Illustrous contribution which tho German peoplo have mado to tho imperishable assets of tho world. Until the outbreak of tho war I maintained active personal and business relations with Germany. I served in the German army thirty thir-ty years ago. But I am ashamed bitterly and grievously ashamed of tho Germany Ger-many which stands convicted before be-fore the high tribunal of the world's public opinion of having planned and willed war; of the revolting re-volting deeds committed in Belgium Bel-gium and northern France, of tho infamy of tho Lusitania murders, of innumerable violations of tho law of nations, of abominable plotting plot-ting in friendly countries and shameless abuse of their hospitality, hospi-tality, of crime heaped upon crime in hideous defiance of the laws of God and man. Mr. Kahn, who, by the way, is the head of the great banking house of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., adds his personal testimony to the treachery of tho Berlin Ber-lin government, declaring: I know something from actual experience of tho plotting of tho Prussian war party and how for a full generation they had endeavored endeav-ored again and again to bring about a situation which would force war upon the world. I know of my own personal knowledge that the stage was set for it six or seven years ago in connection with the Agadir episode. I know that the pan-Germans meant to havo a footing in South America and onco thero would have threatened threat-ened and had prepared plans to threaten this very country of ours. I know that Austria in 1913 meant to conquer Serbia, and so informed her then ally, Italy, believing be-lieving that she could do so with impunity. And I know thut Austria did not believe that the ultimatum, to Serbia in July, 10U, would bring a Berious war. There Is so much of substance In overythlng Otto Kahn has said on tho war, that The Standard must add this appeal-to -tho manhood of this country, made at the cloae of the Milwaukee speech: Now, America, the nevcr-defeat-cd, has thrown her sword into the scale, becauso to do so was Indispensable Indis-pensable for our honor, tho preservation pres-ervation of our institutions and our very destiny. If ever a nation entered tho war after having maintained infinite forbearance in the face of intolerable intol-erable provocation, America Is that nation. We seek no place in the sun to use the German chancellor's term except tho sun ot liberty. America is incapable of hating an cntiro people, but we do hate, and we shall fight with every ounce of our might, tho spirit which has power over tho people of Germany and which, if it were to prevail, would destroy liberty, justice and democracy. |