The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-30
practical qualities which will enable

| tary duty may Dc involved In cltlzen
ship. In brief plead for a system o
universal training for the task of de
Tense. I plead also for such system
of national defense as shall make tina
task when 1t does arise universe
duty The present volunteer system
can never give us an efficient protection
can never be put into operation with
out injustice. Is sure to result in any
really great struggle in criminal anc
needless waste of human lives. and car
only perpetuate and increase the spirit
of sel6shness in the many, while put
ting cruel price on the patriotism o.
the few.
Whatever may be the outcome of thu
present crisis, we as nation are goine
to learn some profoundly needed les
sons. and thank God, we are in mood
to learn and profit by them as we have
not been for half q century.
God give US the spirit of heart search.
ing humility as We face the great issues
OF these days, and show up the way to
be worthy of this costly experiment 60
nobly entered upon by the nations sons.
the Nationsl Guard.
In speaking of THE Call to Service, -
Rev. Henry Cansfield of The First Met h.
odist Episcopal church of Owosso. said
''Owosso had taste of what war
means in anticipation yesterday morn.
ing when about five thousand people
lined the streets and crowded the sta
tion to witness the departure of Co. A
for Crawling, there to await orders
which may take them to the border of
Mexico to protect the rights of Ameri-
can citizens and restore order to that
bleeding country.
There is a vast difference between
war as an academic question. and war
when it reaches forth and takes one or
more of your sons. Then be begin to
realize the horrors Of war in Europe
and what war may mean to America.
For three years Mexico has been torn
with dissentions and revolution. Some
one may ask, what is that to us? Well,
TO quote Mr.. Root in an article in the
Review Of Reviews for March, "More
than forty Thousand of our citizens
nave sought their fortunes and made
heir bones there. "A thousand millions
If American capital had been invested
n that rich and productive country,
Ind millions of income from these en-
erprises were annually returned to the |
United States. But revolution had |
.ome, and factional warfare was rife. |
americans had been murdered. Amer.
can property had been wantonly de-
troyed and the lives and property Of
IL Americans were in danger. That
vas in March, 1918. Since that time
hings have gone from bad to worse,
until today they are in an intolerable
condition. You have but to read the
asst note of Secretary Lansing, which
8 a defense of the position of the
United States, to feel a righteous in
|ignation against the continuation of
UGH abhorent conditions.
We may differ as to the wisdom If
'Watchful Waiting" and there are
Ionest differences, but when our cit
ems are murdered in cold blood and
aids made on the territory of the
United States, and the defacto gov
of Mexico is unable or un
Wiling to bring these bandits to time
hen it is for us to unite in upholding
he hands of the president in his pui-
ose to end this political chaos and
And judged from the dem
of Yesterday this is the
rec d of the citizens of Owosso. We
re proud of our boys and believe
hat if called to Mexico they will give
good account of themselves.
l want to speak of what this call
o service means for the boys who !
ave so nobly responded to their
ountry's call and then ask ourselves
lhat the call to spiritual service
hould and does mean to us.
Mr.. Cansfield then paid fine tri-
ute to the heroic and sacrifical in
he young men who had left for
,rayling, in the following language.
True patriotism receives it's test not
lone on the field of battle, but when
man responds to the call of his
ountry, when he gives up lucrative
or a comfortable home to
lnswer that Summons, when he is
Wiling to forsake all for his coun-
rvs sake"
At the First Baptist church Sun
lay Rev. II. A. Waite spoke upon the
ragic watch kept by Rizpah (King
'aul's widow over the dead bodies
If her slain sons. Terrible as were
he conditions that formed the pic
ure, there is nothing in history more
stirring than the devotion of this an
,ient mother and Rizpah rises in this
scene Of deepest sorrow a true type
IF the undying loyalty of motherhood
rhe sorrows of nations are borne in
he largest sense by the mothers of
men. Back of the blare of trumpets
calling for troops-back of the uni