Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-15

to it's proper place among the maritime
nations will give to industry in Illinois
The question of a merchant marine is
not a local seaboard question. Europe,
with its shipping bIockaded. no longer
can furnish the vessels nsedcd to car
ry our freights. The opportunity to
DO this for ourselves awaits US.
Stands For Good Roads.
There is still another piece of con,
struc:ive work, nearer home. that l
will undertake to further Iowa. In
diana, Wisconsin and other states in
Cur immediate territory are benefited.
by good roads in Illinois. as Illinois is
benefited by good roads in those
states. The federal government spends
millions OF dollars yearly on river and
harbor Improvements. but neglects it,
grea- highways. Ship cargoes must
first travel the highways. \ 1.-THE CT
the amount spent on rivers and har
bors, if laid out on good roads, would
materially reduce the cost Of market
ing our products, TO the advantage OF
the worker. the manufacturer, I'D
particularly the farmer.
But let us turn again to the record
of achievement IN the past eighteen
months. On its work of enacting con
structive legislation alone. the nation
al administration has earned unani
nous vote of approval from the Ameri
can people. But there is a record o.
still more solemn significance. The
page of history that viii show the
greatest service to our country and to
humanity in our time is being written
now
Dwell for a moment upon Mexico
and all that is suggested by that name.
1t is country devastated by war. It's
homes are disrupted-the father in a
forgotten grave on some lonely hill
side, the son manned or in exile. the
mother and the daughter wandering in /,
what places and in what distress, none
knows-industry destroyed, property
scattered TO the winds and happiness
fled from the land.
Save Our Land.
only a few weeks ago there were
men in this country who were willing
TO plunge the nation into war if they
could secure personal or political ad |
vantage thereby. Abuse and scorn |
were heaped upon the president be- /.
cause ne remained firm in crisis; /
because he dared TO do right in the /
face of threats that TO do right was I
TO lose popularity.
Then Europe burst into 4 flame OF 1
war. continent is bathed in blood. /
a generation is being destroyed. The .
world trembles. amazed and appalled,. |
Every great nation of the Caucasian 1
l.
one, save us, is on the battlefield or
sits armed awaiting the dread day o.
conflict.
America is at peace. We have no
call for volunteers. We have no con-
scription. We have no lists of dead
and injured. America stands aghast
al conditions il believed civilization
had made impossible. Yet the Next
can situation held the same germ OF
strife that the Servian
situation held.
Earns Our Gratitude.
I'VE are not at peace b. accident
We are at peace because Woodrow
Wilson had the vision, the justice ana
the courage to stand firm for peace
and the methods OF peace against
clam nor for war. Had hot blood. rasl
pride and arrogance of power been
given their way we would have been
AZ war with Mexico. and God alone
Knows where else. before the wa
81 irit swept Europe. Steadfss: in the !
knowledge that he was right. the pres
ID emit took the unfair criticism that
lssailed him. and turned the jibes OF
he boosters and the self-serving into
The gratitude of the millions.
He is in Washington. sticking {, 1
lis job holding the country 10 the
course Of peace. meeting with sound ]
,ense and honest purposes all the prob
ems CT the great war. and ready. upon /
nc first occasion that offers, TO medl- I
lie between the warning powers OF