The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-04-06
AN uNPATRloTlc IMPLICATION

God punish those who would
plunge their country into war for the
projections of the dollars is
that for a good, Orthodox prayer?-
Miami Metropolis.
In all kindness of spirit we pro-
inounce this prayer as being very
much out of place, for by implication
i it impugns the integrity and honor of
our nation.
1t is an awful thing to say even by
insinuation and implication that this
nation is going to war merely at the
behest and for the protection of Wall
street, that it may coin dollars at the
sacrifice of lives that are most dear
to us.
The newspaper that entertains
these sordid and unpatriotic views
has read President Wilson's message
to no purpose, and not only disre-
CARDS but questions the sincerity and
truthfulness of his marvellous utter
ances.
This nation has not destroyed one
dollars worth of German property,
nor has it taken a single German life.
But what of Germany?
1t has deliberately ana with malice
prepense destroyed millions of our
property and the lives of our citizens
men. women and children.
1t has plotted against us with Mex
leo, and has attempted to do so with
Japan, and on our own soil its ennis
saries have destroyed our munition
plants, blown up bridges and have
committed other unlawful acts.
Germany has steadily and persist
emily disregarded all international
laws and the dearer laws of civiliza-
ton, and has outraged the sweet
dream of religion and humanity
In the face of these outrages to say,
even by implication, that we go to
war at the behest of Wall street and
for the dollar is inconceivable.
The hour has struck when one must
be either for us or against us.
We are indeed sorry to think where
so much is impending that a newspa-
per that is so closely in touch with
public opinion should be false to our
traditions and our grievances either
by word or implication.
Senator LaFollette said directly
what the Metropolis says by implica-
ton, and since the above was put in
type we have read Senator Williams
speech in reply to the Wisconsin SEN
ator Here is the language employed
by the Mississippian:
I'm getting tired of this talk that
this is a Wall street war. That's
lie Wall street did not sink the Lu-
sitania, the Arabic, the Sussex and
these other ships I'm tired of lies
like that, and think it is the duty of
the American congress and people to
brand them as lies"
Senator Williams said the resolu-
ton did not propose that the United
States enter the European war. but
that it go into American war to pro-
tect American rights and for the sake
of honor, justice. safety, liberty and
equality Once at war. he declared,
the United States should stay until
it became assured the houses of Ho-
henzolIern and Hapsburg would not
longer reign in Germany and Austria
and that the Turk would be forced
back into Asia.
And in the same vehement and pa
triotic language Senator Hardwick of
Georgia said:
I'VE go to war not on fine-spun the
cries but for one cause that peace
a5le American citizens engaged in le-
ultimate business have been murdered
in cold blood by agencies of an estab
lished government This government
will be unable to live unless it dis
charges its duty to protect it's citi-
zens
The German government must an
5 er 10 the American government for
TIE American citizens it has murder
el.
Il deeply mistake the temper of
: ~ioan manhood and the metal Of
-e5ican citizenship if the prayers
f. Ieae agc for peace at any pr'ce.
TIE people want peace, but not at
the expense of having 'Amerie an
made of scorn and contempt among
men and nations. If we must have
peace at such price, say welcome
war