Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-30
The ACID TEST

which the government CiASAo
upon every Individual man and woman
IN America for solemn realization OF
the seriousness of that Crisis.
It is encouraging, we repeat, TOT II
Is at once rebuke and an answer 10
those who have met bald statements
OF fact with an unreasoning optimism
which next to disloyalty Is the worst
enemy Of America and the American
cause today.
Frank A. vanderlip, In an appeal
for q national understanding or the
condition which the nation faces, re-
fers to the acid test which democracy
and the practice of democratic theory
Of government are undergoing. 1T
may be-" he says, "that the near future
will show that democracy can stand
this test. It may be that the fact that
the world must be saved from the Teu-
tonic Hun and all that he stands Tor
will get into the souls of the American
people deep enough for them to forget
Tor the time being their individual in
terests and bring them together as an
efficient nation working toward
single end. But we are not yet awake
to the fact that II we are going to play
our part In winning this war we must
muster our full strength as nation"
Mr.. Vanderiip sums up his plea IN
this sentence: Nothing is surer than
that America must be completely or
Hanixed for war. This has been said
thousands and thousands OF times, but
we have not done 1t yet
In the war between democracy and
autocracy the latter has the great ad-
vantage of unity. 1t is a fundamental
advantage, growing out of the funda-
mental basis of autocratic govern
ment, for an autocracy could not and
would not exist but for the power OF
the one man who is its ruler. to con-
troll the actions, the efforts and even
the minds of all the millions over
whom he holds sway.
. Germany Is the worlds greatest
tautocracy. There are few other
monarchies like it in theory, Japan
being the only one Of moment In the
congress of nations But Japan's form
lof government, in practice, is less
isutocratic than is Germany's.
| The world which believes in de-
,mocracy and which depends on de-
mocracy-the world, too, on which de-
imocracy depends for Its own exist
fence-is at war with the greatest
autocracy Of modern times. The cir
cumstances of the war have given the
kaiser supreme sway not only over
all the Germans, but, as well. over the
people of Austria and Hungary, Bull
Earia and Turkey. All, for the pur-
poses Of this war, are subject to his
mad will. Individualism ceased long
ago In the countries over which the
kaiser holds sway. Every man and
woman, every child as we'll, moves or
halts, lives or dies, at the nod OF the
German emperor.
1t is against this awful power that
you and / are fighting. But are we
fighting? Are we doing each our share
as each individual over whom VIII
helm yields his rod Of iron. Is doing
his share? Can the loosely hung
threads which hold democracies to-
gether in times of peace and plenty
draw them together now and bind
them in a solid phalanx to withstand
the massed attack Of autocracy's en-
battled millions?
That is the test of democracy. I'm
less you and guide our every action
by the thought: as 1t best for my
. country that / do this?" then that
action is In opposition to democracy.
in opposition to our government, In OPP
position to our interests and our safe
ty, In opposition to the defense Of our
liberties.
I Ours Is q government Of the people,
Nor the people. by the people. 1t can
survive II all of US partake OF that de-
oh hnc
own neighbors forth to meet the ar
mics Of autocracy on the battlefield.
But II we are not loyal and as willing
as they to sacrifice our all for the
perpetuation Of democracy, then their
sacrifices must be In vain.
We are making history today,
whether we be marching in the army's
ranks or working at peaceful trade.
Our opportunity for service II we re-
main at hometis no less urgent than
II we dress in khaki and find the way
to the foremost trenches and over
their barriers to No Mans Land. 1t
IL less spectacular than fighting, this
service which includes the purchase
Of Liberty Bonds. the support OF the
Red Cross and Of the Y. M. C. A. and
Y. w. C. A. war funds, the conserve
ton Of our money and resources SO
we may meet future demands on them,
the sacrifice of some. Injuries. the
cheerful observance Of food pledges
these are less spectacular than the
battle charge and the constant chal-
lenge to death. But Of what avail
would our army be without the sup.
port OF the civilians at home?
The government levies taxes TO OBJ
tain money with which to pay por-
ton of the expense Of Americas pas.
In the world war. The concrete char
acter of the obligation thus imposed
leaves no latitude for the judgment Of
any who attempt to evade payment
Of these taxes. Such evasion is pun.
hhable. for 1t is an offense asainst