The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-03-08
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
Il. APPELT,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
FOR HUME AND COUNTRY.

with no greater desires than to
pursue our own course of honor
unhindered and unhampered by
the rest of the world.
Yet with all our peaceful IN
tentions, we are slowly but in
evltably drifting toward war
toward a war of horrors incon-
ceivable to the great majority
of our people
Our homes and our county are
in jeopardy.
The president of the United
States has strongly and repeat
edly intimated as much and has
begged congress and the people
60 hasten the imperative duty OF
preparing our country to meet
the shock if it comes.
Influential leaders and men OF
thought and action in every Sec
ton of the land have stated pub
liciy that war is inevitable.
Others in more humble walks of
life have seen the beacon Of dis
aster and are demanding action
for defense.
But some appear to give little
heed or thought to the dangers
of tomorrow. They camly slum
Der in the old time and fatuous
belief that if war ever comes ''a
millions men will spring to arms
over night and drive the invader
from our shores
No more fatal thought or be-
lief was ever conceived in the
mind OF man. No more certain
course could we ever pursue for
eventual destruction and serfdum
Of our beloved country.
With our thousands Of miles
of shores and borders unprotec-
ed. with an army of but a hand
fpI Of valiant men. with navy
which high officers themselves
admit to be lamentable made
anate. with a few unreliable sub
marines and practically no aerial
squadron, with no great guns
powderful enough to cope with
those of an enemy, with a scar
city of powder and she'll, with
this distressing and pitiful array
unpreparedness and ineficlency
we are expected to spring to
arms in night" and hurl the
veteran and scientifically armed
hosts Of a; powerful nation into
the sea.
4 million men would spring to
arms. Ten, twenty or thirty
million men would spring to
arms. But the arms would be
pop guns and pitchforks, for we
have but few other arms.
Men with red blood fight for a
principle, and nations are but
the nnifcation Of many men.
At least one groupe of the
European belligerents are sin
eere in the belief tlat they ha re
just cause for a quarrel with the
United States. With them it is a
principle, and for this principle
these men will fight. They would
not be men were it otherwise.
Our views and their views ap
pear to be irreconciable. Neither
sides will admit itself in the
wrong. and neither will face to
She rear. To men who take a
calm and unprejudiced view of
all circumstances and conditions
in the premises there appears to
be little left but an eventual re
sort to arms.
That resort, if it comes, will
be fatal to as unless we are pre-
pared to meet it as men of honor
and determination, fighting val
iantly, enlightenedly and ef6ci-
entity in what we deem to be a
just and sacred cause-our homes
snd our country.
America must prepare. but
preparedness consists of some
thing more than men and guns.
We must create a. uni6 cation of
purpose, patriotic spirit, and
loyalty to our country and its
traditions Of frr adom, justice
aud humanity.
While the congress is taking
steps to provide an army and
j its armament and equipment.
We as citizens should begin the
work Of welding our people into
one great homogeneous family,