The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-04-26
C0NR AIDES OF
AMERICA KEEP
THE FAITH

CHy Ruth
I'm this the darkest hour in TN,
history Of the world, ! call TO you
my comradc to you, whoever yop
are, wherever you are IN ,hcsc UnitcD
States. clasp your hand gaze
into your eyes. Our souls call tC
each other - BE tue Keep tn,
Faith
I'm the hell which has swept Europe
W. have been betrayed The world
seems mad. Hate, vengeance, creed
lust, all the fiends hat ever curscd
the soul Of men have been turned
loose. Justice, truth, liberty, ideal
ism, love all these terms have been
prosttutcd to glolify the Monster,
War A lying press poisons the
minds of our people. The insanity Of
miItarism sweeps the country like a
whirlwind. Drastic laws have been
framed to curtail freedom of speech.
Prisons and scaffolds wait for those
who refuse to join in the mad orgy
and who dare protest against it. 1t
was not enough that Europe should
be scared with blood and tears. laid
waste and desolatc, but the fair land
of America must also be plunged into
the fearful conflict. The lust of
the War Gods seems Unsuitable. The
whole world writhes and groans with
agony. And the cry Of outraged hu-
manity echoes from shore to shore.
In this awful hour, dear comrade
let us hold the vision. Let us re-
member that the world is our coun-
try. That all men are our brothers.
Let us refuse to lose our sanity in a
Capitalistic war. Let US refuse to
lift the sword of the mastcre. Let US
extend our hands to our brothers over
the seas, and say, eve have no quar-
rel with you've refuse to shed your
blood. We will keep the Faith with
you unbroken. And there is no pow
err upon earth which can make US
break this vow!"
Let us hold the Vsion-the vision
of world-solidarity, freedom and
peace. Let us rise above hate and
bestiality. In the darkness of this
awful night let US light the lamp Of
Truth and Love, and help to light
the people into the New Day.
Now is the hour for great action.
for mighty deeds. We shall spread
the nothing can silence us!
What if the prisons and scaffolds of
the masters await us! We do not
fear! Millions have been led to the
slaughter in Europe and have given
their lives for an ideal which is
false. Who would hesitate to Law
his all upon the altar of the most
glorious cause the world has ever
seen! They may load our bodies
with chains; they may cruelty and kill
us-but that will not silence and sub
due us. The spirit which animates
us is immortal, it cannot be con-
quered. Our martyred dead live on
in you and me. And we in turn
will live in others. The spirit of
Liberty knows no defeat-it is un-
conquerable. Throughout the history
of the world it has fought onward;
prisons, scafrolds, dungeons, have
been powerless to stop it; every per
secution has strengthened it, every
death has added potency. 1t is this
great spirit that has shaken the
autocracy Of Russia to the dust
that shall shake the autocracv of
Germany and England and France
and America to the dust. Its efforts
shall be ceaseless until the whole
earth is free-until harmony and
beauty and JOY and peace have been
made possible for all people.
Comrades of America, arise Now
is the hour for actionl
Hold the Visionl
Keep the Faithl