The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-08-24
PATRIOTIC MEETING
HELD SATURDAY
Continued from page one)

iidHS. we nave ueCldTeu CnaC SCaCe
of war existed between Germany and
the United States. 1t did not take
senator's and members of the house to
come 20 this conclusion.
Any man that had two grains of
sense knows that when our citizens
are being murdered and our property
destroyed a state of war did exist, and
therefore it makes me tired, sick and
disgusted when people go over this
country stating that your representa-
tives should not have taken the action
which they did.
THE proposition is simply this: In
der the law any neutral nation is en-
titled to the use of the high seas. Cit
liens of the United States have us
much right to travel them as YOU have
to travel the roads in front of YOUR
homes or the streets in your city. Ger
many has never been able to deny that
this is the law in the case.
When, however. we sought to use
the right given us under international
law Germany said to us there are GER
tain streets and highways that you
can not use, even though you have the
right to use them, because you are en-
gaglng IN commerce with our enemies.
Let's get the proposition down to
plain case: Suppose any of you had
business with one of your neighbors.
end suppose in order to transact this
business you wished to use the public
road, when there was no question as
10 your right to use, and suppose some
man, who did not like your neighbor
with whom YOU were doing business
stood at the side of the road with a
shotgun and told you that you could
not pass along this road, because he
was an enemy Of the man with whom
you wanted to conduct your relations
What would have been the result:
Knowing you as do, know you
would have said to him: 4 have a
right to use this road, and you have
no right to stop me, and am going
to army myself and protect my rights.
and Ii you Interfere with me we will
shoot this thing out
That IS rather crude illustration,
but that is exactly what we have told
Germany, and we are arming our
selves and we are going to shoot it
out, and when we get through the
shooting you may rest assured that
Germany won't block any more roads.
War is a terrible thing. None of
us wanted to get into it, l opposed it
as long as there was a chance for us
to avoid it honorably. The cost in
men and money, the broken hearts,
the bloodshed, the suffering of those
at home who do not have to 90, is ap-
palling. l could not but shudder and
sigh when l cast my vote as | did.
This war was brought home to me
two years ago, when the only brother
l had, realizing earlier than we have
realized the ruthlessness of these Ger
man tyrants, went to England to do
his bit to stop them in their murder
Gus course. He today fills soldiers
grave on the battlefields of France,
but l do not feel that his work was in
vain. only wish that he could have
lived to have served his own country
In this time of stress. l hope you will
pardon this personal allusion. mere
ly mention it to show to you how well
| knew the suffering that this war
would bring to our people.
Your ancestors and mine fought
for the liberty which you and I now
enjoy Your ancestors and mine, by
their blood and treasure established
government that has ever since held
the respect of the world. Will you
stand quietly by and let brutal gang
of murderers take your liberty away
from you, kick you around like a
football, and make you the laughing
stock of the civilized world?
Il know you will not. You are not
bred that way. If I thought YOU
would, | would resign my seat in con-
gress tomorrow, because would think
1t was disgrace to represent you.
Some people are making state
ments crlticiZing the administration
for declaring a state of war. Some
people are criticizing congress for it's
action. They have a right to their
opinion as to whether or not we should
defend our national honor, but that
is past history
"The congress of the United States
has decided to defend it's national
honor. There is no looking back now.
We are in this war and any man who
does anything to hinder our success at
the front or at home is a traitor to
his country and is not worthy of the
respect of patriotic citizenship.
Before war was declared we all
had right to our opinion, but since
state of war exists there can be no
halfway ground. Every one of us is
either for our country or for Ger
many. There is no lodging the issue.
Robert F.. Lee was opposed to Sc
cession, but when his mother State
declared for it he resigned his con.>
mission in the United States army
and drew his sword to carry ont the