Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-03-25

Raised His Rifle High In the Air.
on the road. Then, with an accelera.
ton OF reckless determination, he
Jerked the belt itself from his body
and hurled 1t away from him. the
hayonet In It's sheath falling with q
chatter far from the discarded gun.
There followed buttons. and num-
bers, and all else that was detachable
from his once complete and proper
uniform.
This" he cried, lis my answer"
He raised himself erect. folded his
arms. and looked with mingled def.
ance and appeal at the amazed and al
lent men.
"This Is my answer to the murder.
| ers--my answer to the emperors.
kings, presidents, politicians, capital
lists, bankers, makers OF guns and pow
der--all the money-sodden and power
craxed schemers who have brought
twenty millions OF slaves together to
shoot each other down."
"Stop!" flung out a voice from the
group Of men before him.
Duprex paused and looked anxious
ly but fearlessly toward the speaker.
"Well. Martineau?" he demanded
sharply.
this Ia treason!" replied the man
resolutely. He was the largest among
them---a very presentable figure OF a
soldier In his new uniform and his
honest face had perhaps little less
Of the interpretive expression that
characterized the pale countenances
Of his compaions,
Treason? Treason to whom
Treason to what?" demanded Duprez.
advancing step and treading his
Lebel under his feet.
Treason to your country. Trea-
son to Frnnce!" retorted Martineau.
Among the others there was now
apparent a division Of feeling. con-
fiict OF emotions aroused by the fiery
and appealing words of Duprez and
the sharp and antiseptic reminder OF
Martineau.
Duprez saw instantly that he had
perhaps half OF his men already won.
prepared as they had doubtless been
by their reading, and that he had a
fair chance to convince the others.
Treason" he cried scornfully.
Treason to France. already betrayed
by parliamentary cliQues! Treason to
country already plundered by grasp
Ing politicians! Treason to the Patrfe
already tottering to the grave dug for
her by her own men--so-called men
who NIL the magazines Of her battle
ships with rotten powder Don't you
know why the Liberte blew ups--men
who I'LL their pockets with millions
appropriated To buy a WORKOUT and
bankrupt railroad who trade In
the nations property and the nations
lives-~men who fatten on the corpses
OF the poor--men who reek with"
mol" shouted Martineau. Urea
son to the country OF Derouiede and
Poincare; treason to the nation at
tackled by the tyrant who wants to put
his foot on every province Of France
~ he has on Alsace and"
'tOh. there you are!" broke In Du-
prex. 'That foolish cry OF Alsace and
Lorraine. What Ii Alsacer What Ia
Lorraines What Ia France. What Ia
Germany, Austria, Russian What ara
these imaginary lines drawn across
fields and mountains and valleysf
what are these artificial divisions
OF men that are set to fighting ons
another ON the fiimsiest pretexts to
crafty the lust Of rulers. The Ger
man tyrant. you say. Yes. the Ger
man tyrant. the Russian tyrant. the
French tyrants. What Is the republic
OF France. as II stands today. but an
ether form OF that same corruption.
that same autocracy. that same trf
nmph OF the few over the many that
rules in all the world. Because you
so TO The polls and vote. do you think