The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-04-20
The CullsTo iArnns
NNE hF1dfed and forty-one years ago today
~ the shot heard around the world was ftes

me hN1ured ana forty-one years ago TO-DAY
~ the shot heard around the world was fred
on the common at the village Of Lexington.
Today on this anniversary, in FIVE hundred and
thirty-one American cities. there will be whistles
blowing and flags flying. Today there win be
messages scattered broadcast. The modern Paul
Revere, from Coast to Coast, will shout his sum
mons from an aeroplane But the summons will
be the same As on that day in 1916 the words
will be passed from house to house:
ITO armsr"
Here in Honolulu the same cry is echoed.
During the century and 4 half since Lexington
there have been great changes, but none more
worthy Of thought than that who so train their
guns upon "the bleak and barren coast" where
American liberties were born, attacks no less the
security and liberty Of group of Islands in an
other ocean, 6ye thousand miles beyond.
To the minutemen Of Lexington the world and
their country ended in the Alleghanies. Today the
men to take up arms in Boston defend Hawaii.
They have become Of the same spirit, guarantors
Of the same freedom, sharers Of the same pros
perity.
Remotencss from the scene of conflict does not
today excuse from action the American citizens
who in Hawaii share the freedom which was
created so long ago in another place. American,
freedom is an entity 1t cannot be divided by
States, nor can one commonwealth be deprived of
il and it still remain whole in another.
To the young men of Hawaii has come the same
memorable summons Of the night Of April is. 1776
1.-The same summons upon which grave men arose.
and dressed and took their arms-the same sum-
mons whereupon they assembled at the crossroads
and marched to the green of Lexington:
ITO armsI To afmsl The enemy is upon us r.
And moreover an enemy whose wickedness has
not been equaIled in the history of mankind an
enemy who has murdered the wives and the sons
and daughters of Americans; an enemy who has
declared to the world without shame that It has
taken up the pognard of the assassin and the torch
of arson with which to impress upon us and upon
the world the most fendish code of morals which
has ever sought the sanction of power
The young men Of Honolulu must answer that
summons. In the scheme Of Liberty there can be
no dsloyalty Those who in Honolulu today have
not yet thought must now awaken. The freedom
Of this country is more than the material one of
which we have become enamored for it is spiritual
we'll and AZ such twas created by sacrifice and
must be maintained by sacrifice.
An army commepsurate with the task must be
raised by the United States. 1t will be an army
either Of volunteers or raised through selective
draft. The latter method is the better, in the
opinion Of the army experts, but throughout Amer
lea, as in Great Britain, there is sentimental
preference for volunteering
The young men of Hawaii not exempt through
physical disability or through being engaged inl
some occupation necessary to the nation, must
respond to the call to arms, either as volunteers
or as conscrpts. Today, in Washington the selec-
tive draft idea less distasteful name for con-
scription-appears to be again in the ascendancy.
The selective draft plan viii probably be adopted
and be in force before the end Of the month. Then
those eligible Of Honolulu who have not previous
ly volunteered, will be called to the Colors
In after years, how much preferable will it be
for the veteran to be able to say that he was a
volunteer in the great war before the compulsory
service measure became law.
What better day for an American to volunteer
than today, the anniversary Of the clash at Lex
ington7
The opportunity presented this morning to the
young men of Honolulu viii never recur. Grasp i'll