The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1917-12-12
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Jimmie and q German Boy Clash
Must Do Three Things to Save
Country.
Number Five

II was a warm evening. 80 Uncle
Dan went out to n lawn seat under the
spreading branches OF the great tree
shat suggested the farms name Of Oak
Hill. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
ing for him, go Uncle Dan was cap
s,red by the boys on short order.
"Say, Uncle Dam" Billie began. ave
had a red-hot argument ut school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
that German schools were miles ahead
Of our schools and that no one could
come up to the educated German. Well,
Jimmie got hot under the collar and
handed 1t back to him good and plenty.
Jimmie said IL their education taught
them to torpedo Lusitanias, sink hos
pital ships. murder hundreds of wom-
en- and children, make slaves or
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all sorts of crimes,
then we did not want that kind Of
education here. What do you think
about It, Uncle Dan? l told Jimmie
you spent lot Of time In Europe ana
knew all about schools, SO give us your
opinion"
"well," replied Uncle Dan, deliber-
ately. "the German schools are very
thorough they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
Industrial training given there Is prob
ably the best to he found. The schools
az a whole. however, in my opinion.
appeal to the head only, and never to
the heart. The aim and trend Is To
make The individual blindly submits
sive to the Prussian plan of world do
sin;on; they teach that u Is the des-
| tiny of Germany to rule the world ana
that to the glory and advance OF Ger
many, in this plan, all things must give
woy: that the kaiser as head OF the
| state. can do no wrong If he carries
forward the plan of world control.
! Some of the greatest teachers ana
| preachers even defend and justify her
heartless crushing of Belgians and the
many other atrOciOuS crimes she has
committed in this war. Thank God.
our American education reaches both
the head and the heart. 1t is an edu-
cation with a soul, and we must main
tain the high ideals we have fixed. In
a word. in Germany, the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
ment, while here the government ex-
lists to serve the people"
"Just wait minute" interrupted
Billie. Say that over again slowly, 80
| can write it down"
Uncle Dan, smilingly. complied.
Billie exclaimed "Now, we will hand
that nut out for Carl to crack.
Carl. you know" continued Billie.
has a very smart father who keeps
him posted on the German arguments.
Carl said our government was only
an experiment anyway; that 1t would
not last twenty years, and that II
might burst up any old time. Jimmie
asked him II Germany was so mighty
good, wig they did not go back there
| to live"
sour government will go on forever,
won't 1t. Uncle Dan?"
"Now," said Uncle Dan, "you are
raising big question, and one that
has troubled me Cor years. Our gov.
eminent Ia still In the experimental
stage: In fact. 1t is the greatest ex-
pertinent ever undertaken, and II pop
ular government Is to be successful,
few things must be done, otherwise. to
paraphrase the great Lincoln. the gov
erpment of the people. by the people
and for the people. will perish. Ii Is
my firm conviction" said Uncle Dan.
In q very impressive manner, that II
our country is to go on, as we hope
and pray. we must very quickly do
at least three things, and l will name
them in the order of importance as 1t
appears to me:
First, adopt compulsory universal
military training Of all young men
physically fit before they reach the
age of twenty years.
"Next, require that every foreigner
who comes here to live must, within a
reasonable time. say a year. declare
his intention of becoming an American
citizen aud take the necessary steps to
do so, thereby. from that moment. as
Stunning all the obligations OF citizen
shin of our country, and that means he
| must ueIenu our mug upou eQuhi t'IhhN
with our native born, and II he Is not
willing to do this. he should be sent
back from whence he came"
'srhat's the stun" exclaimed Billie.
"And, finally, enact such legislation
as will make voting compulsory. Pop
ular government is based upon the
participation of all and the rule OF
the majority, and democracy cannot
continue and be successful unless we
live up TO the spirit Of the institu-
ton.
"Fhe FIRST step. however. Is the pass
ing Of the Chamberlain bill for univer-
sal military training. II you Will get
the leading citizen, and especially the
editor of your paper. 10 write personal
letters to your congressman and both
senators, urging their support, II win
help enormously.
Al see by the morning papers" said
Uncle Dan, "that the Rotary clubs Of
the entire country, the Invest. most EN-
eient organization 10 be found. have