Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1915-05-18
THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE HOUR
by Major F. w. Barber

ly nioJoi L. W. D"DSi1
In the heat Of passion is not the time for deciding momentous
questions, and especially if they involve the fate or the welfare OF a
nation.
A q Of indignation is sweeping Over this country because a
foreign submarine has torpedoed and sunk a passenger ship loaded
with l,5oO non-combatant women and children and men, many of whom
were citizens OF or w country.
In their hour OF anger thousands of good m lei have cred out or
war IS a retaiatory measure.
But there comes a time when an hour of silent thought is more
productive OF beneficial humanitarian results than a life time of vIlica-
ton and abuse heaped upon other heads.
No amount of rage, n hasty action, can bring back the lives OF
those who went down with the Lustana.
But sober thought and a careful examination OF or internal
conditions may sav the lives of many thousands of Americans TO-
living.
Let us think before we act.
America is a nation of peace, and We ask only to be allowed to
pursue a m honorable course ndeterred by others.
the old world Oh d W c want to Oe nina 0r "e"eeu VII"
by them.
a duty which is imperative and must be m with courage and for
ttude-the duty of safeguarding the lives and property of American
citizens On the high eas
If that duty cal be performed without involving the United States
in a war with a foreign country, then it becomes the obvious duty of
the president to seek a means to that end.
For deadly W al should be the court of last resort
And while the president is seeking to uphold the dignity of the
United States and protect III citizens without involving us II a disas-
trous war, it becomes II solemn duty as citizens to rally to his side,
to present a united front and to assure him of the loyal moral and
material support of a nation of a hundred million souls.
Any act short of this would be unpatriotc, un-Amercan, and I'M
worthy of any human being who claims the Stars and Stripes as his
But there is yet another way in whhh we as citizens may we'll serve
our country and materially strengthen the hands of our president.
We have many naturaized citizens OF German parentage in III
midst good men and true.
Let us preserve toward them a a attitude of fairness and friend
ship and good WILL lest hasty words create dscord STRIFE among
our own citizenship.
Let us remember that when they came to us they became citizens
of our country, and as loyal citizens let us continue to regard them.
And let gentlemen OF German birth rise equally to the occasion and
remember that they are now American citizens, and refrain from crl-
cim of the land of their adoption, the land which gives them food and
shelter.
Then, if the inevitable comes and war is forced upon us it must
come to or shores, where it will find is a united people fighting
stanchly in defense of right, justice and home.
Take IN idle hour and think deeply of the welfare of your country.
Dwell not upon the angry passion of today, but rather upon the
higher plane Of tomorrow, that the light of justice and reason may
guide our footsteps in the path Of honor.
And if war is forced upon us we will meet it as American manhood
has net every crisis in its history.