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relations would be restored。 Knowing that my speech would be
widely quoted in the German press； I took even more pains to show
the reasons why we could bide our time and trust to the
magnanimity of the German people。 Of one thing I then and always
reminded my hearersnamely； that during our Civil War； when our
national existence was trembling in the balance and our foreign
friends were few； the German press and people were steadily on
our side。
The occasion was indeed a peculiar one。 On the morning of the
Fourth； when we had all assembled； bad news came。 Certain German
presses had been very prompt to patch together all sorts of
accounts of American defeats； and to present them in the most
unpleasant way possible； but while we were seated at table in the
evening came a despatch announcing the annihilation of the
Spanish fleet in Cuban waters； and this put us all in good humor。
One circumstance may serve to show the bitterness at heart among
Americans at this period。 On entering the dining…hall with our
consul； I noticed two things： first； that the hall was profusely
decorated in a way I had never seen before and had never expected
to seenamely； by intertwined American and British flags； and；
secondly； that there was not a German flag in the room。 I
immediately sent for the proprietor and told him that I would not
sit down to dinner until a German flag was brought in。 He at
first thought it impossible to supply the want； but； on my
insisting； a large flag was at last found。 This was speedily
given a place of honor among the interior decorations of our
hall； and all then went on satisfactorily。
As the war with Spain progressed； various causes of difficulty
arose between Germany and the United States； but I feel bound to
say that the German Government continued to act toward us with
justice。 The sensational press； indeed； continued its work on
both sides of the Atlantic。 On our side it took pains to secure
and publish stories of insults by the German Admiral Diederichs
to the American Admiral Dewey； and to develop various legends
regarding these two commanders。 As a matter of fact； each of the
two admirals； when their relations first began in Manila； was
doubtless rather stiff and on his guard against the other； but
these feelings soon yielded to different sentiments。
The foolish utterances of various individuals； spread by sundry
American papers； were heartily echoed in the German press； the
most noted among these being an alleged after…dinner speech by an
American officer at a New York club； and a Congressional speech
in which the person who made it declared that 〃the United States；
having whipped Spain； ought now to whip Germany。〃 Still； the
thinking men intrusted with the relations between the two
countries labored on； though at times there must have recurred to
us a sense of the divine inspiration of Schiller's words；
〃Against stupidity even the gods fight in vain。〃
Of course the task of the embassy in protecting American citizens
abroad was especially increased in those times of commotion。 At
such periods the number of ways in which American citizens；
native or naturalized； can get into trouble seems infinite； and
here； too； even from the first moment of my arrival in Berlin as
ambassador； I saw evidences of the same evil which had struck me
during my previous missions in Berlin and St。 Petersburgnamely；
the constant and ingenious efforts to prostitute American
citizenship。 Among the manifold duties of an ambassador is the
granting of passports。 The great majority of those who ask for
them are entitled to them； but there are always a considerable
number of persons who； having left Europe just in time to escape
military service； have stayed in America just long enough to
acquire American citizenship； and then； having returned to their
native country； seek to enjoy the advantages of both countries
while discharging the duties of neither。 Even worse were the
cases of the descendants of such so…called Americans； most of
them born in Europe and not able even to speak the English
language； worst of all were the cases of sundry
Russianssometimes stigmatized as 〃predatory Hebrews〃who；
having left Russia and gone to America； had stayed just long
enough to acquire citizenship； and then returned and settled in
the eastern part of Germany； as near the Russian frontier as
possible。 These were naturally regarded as fraudulent interlopers
by both the German and Russian authorities； and much trouble
resulted。 Some of them led a life hardly outside the limits of
criminality； but they never hesitated on this account to insist
on their claims to American protection。 When they were reminded
that American citizenship was conferred upon them； not that they
might shirk its duties and misuse its advantages in the land of
their birth； but that they might enjoy it and discharge its
duties in the land of their adoption； they scouted the idea and
insisted on their right； as American citizens； to live where they
pleased。 Their communications to the embassy were； almost without
exception； in German； Russian； or Polish； very few of them wrote
or even spoke English； and very many of them could neither read
nor write in any language。 For the hard…working immigrant；
whether Jew or Gentile； who comes to our country and casts in his
lot with us； to take his share not only of privilege but of duty；
I have the fullest respect and sympathy； and have always been
glad to intervene in his favor； but intervention in behalf of
those fraudulent pretenders I always felt to be a galling burden。
Fortunately the rules of the State Department have been of late
years strengthened to meet this evil； and it has finally become
our practice to inform such people that if they return to America
they can receive a passport for that purpose； but that unless
they show a clear intention of returning； they cannot。 Very many
of them persist in their applications in spite of this； and one
case became famous both at the State Department and at the
embassy。 Three Russians of the class referred to had emigrated
with their families to America； and； after the usual manner；
stayed just long enough to acquire citizenship； and had then
returned to Germany。 One of them committed a crime and
disappeared； the other two went to the extreme eastern frontier
of Prussia and settled there。 Again and again the Prussian
Government notified us that under the right exercised by every
nation； and especially by our own； these 〃undesirable intruders〃