The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-30

Today our country is facing a crisis
Serious beyond the power of men to
realize. Tomorrow and the next day
and for many days thereafter the situa-
ton will be more serious, and no man
can foretell the end. In such a condi-
ton there is need for calm, stern re-
solve founded on patriotism untainted
by selfshness. No other attitude of
soul is worthy of the cause at stake.
The cause is great; the souls that
would sustain 1t with honor must be
greater. In this hour of trial every
true American must rise to heroism;
rise to higher things on stepping stones
of our dead selves. Whether in battle
with the enemy, on the farm, in the
shop, in the mine, or forest whatever
our station in life, If we would glorffy
the flag Of our country, we must
sacrifice ourselves, our dearest per-
sonal wishes, our most cherished per-
sona1 ambitions We must give our
selves to our country, because our
country is worthy of the sacrifice of our
lives.
Happily this motive is the only one
that appeals to us in a crisis like the
present. BY an all-wise provision of
God the normal soul responds gener-
ously to a call for sacrifice in the cause
of truth and justice.
A mysterious thing is patriotism. It
is the call of the blood that has gone
into the making of the flag. 1t is the
voice of the past, rising from the
graves Of dead heroes. 1t is the appeal
Of nature that knows not petty strifes
or selfish divisions It is the word Of
God, ringing in the ears Of the nation
and firing the hearts of the people to
do and to die in glorious fulfilment of
duty. Patriotism is everywhere abroad
in the land. it speaks in no uncertain
accents. Good men have heard it's
summons and they are quick to re-
spond. From every quarter Of the
globe, citizens who have either sworn
fealty to the land of their adoption or
have received it at birth as their right,
are turning their faces to the land of
liberty, eager to place their fortunes,
their strength, and even their lives at
the servicei of America. On religious
questions they may be as far apart as
the poles, on political grounds they
may be irreconcilably opposed but in
the matter Of loyalty they are abso-
lutely agreed.
One of the first things for every
American to realize, is the fact, that
our country is at war with Germany.
Our duty is plain in this hour of stress
and trial. There is no fear that Amer
leans will be slack in their duty to
their country. Our tradition and his
tory from the very foundation Of this
nation, is record of sacred and sin
cere loyalty and patriotism toward our
country, our government, and our flag.
Moved to the very depths of ourhearts
by the stirring appeal of our President
and by the action of our national con-
gress, we accept Fundamentally and
unreservedly the decree of that legis-
lative authority proclaiming this coun-
try to be in a state of war.
We have prayed that we might not
be drawn into the conflict. But now
that war has been declared, We bow in
obedience to bear our part in it, with
fidelity, with courage, and with the
spirit of sacrifice, which as loyal citi-
zens we are bound to manifest for the
defense of the most sacred rights and
the welfare of the whole nation. Amer
leans, now as ever, acknowledging our
gratitude for the protection of free
dom under the flag, pledge our devo-
ton and our strength in the mainten-
ance of our country's glorious leader
ship in those possessions and prin-
.ciples which have, been America
proudest boast, Inspired neither by
hate nor fear. but by the holy senti-
ments of truest patriotic fervor and
zeal we stand ready to CO operate in
every way with our President and our
national government, to the end that
the holy cause of liberty may triumph,
and that our beloved country may
emerge from this hour of test stronger
and nobler than ever. We must rise as
one man to serve our country accord
ing to our capacity and powers. We
are all true Americans, ready, as our
age, as our ability, and our condition
permit, to do whatever is in us to do,
for the preservation, the progress. and
the triumph of our beloved country.
Why We Entered the War.
Though the causes that led us to take
up arms in defense of our national
honor has many times been stated with
.cIearness by our President and con-
gress; by the press, and by men in
dividually and collectively, yet the
whole case was again re-stated by
President Wilson in his flag day speech,
when he told the thousands gathered
about him that the United States had
entered the war not alone to keep the
world safe for democracy but also be-
cause the extraordinary insults and ag-
gressions of the imperial German gov
eminent left us no choice but to take
up arms in defense Of our rights as a