The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-02-19
CITIZENS OF
FARGO ENDORSE
PRES. WILSON

Continued From Page one.)
were held at the outbreak Of the Span
ish-American war, and there was nc
doubling the sincerity Of those whc
voted to back the president Of the
United States In his stand for Amert-
can rights, in his severance OF dip
lomatic relations with the German
empire and in any crisis that might
grow out of the strained relations re-
sulting from the break and from the
unrestricted submarine warfare on the
high seas.
Major M. F. Steele, presided at the
gathering. the principal speaker Of the
afternoon being Rev. Henry Hoae
Frost, pastor of the First Methodist
Episcopal church, who said that
this would indeed be q sad world
| if the United States should allow the
bars to be let down and allow any
living creature to ruthlessly trample
our rights under foot.
In introducing the speaker Of the
day, Major Steele took occasion to
| call attention to the purpose OF the
gathering and in so doing he handed
out q few very warm sentences to
those advocates Of peace at any
price" and especially condemned the
action Of the North Dakota senator
who refused to vote for the endorse
ment Of the action Of President Will
| son In the present crisis.
Tn the war for independence our
forefathers had their Tories to deal
with: in the civil war the patriots had
| the copperheads, and now in this cris-
/ is we have our peace-at-any-price ad-
vocates," said Major Steele. He said
| that he was thankful that there were
only five Of these in the congress OF
| the United States. Major Steele said
| that should the North Dakota senator
who voted against supporting the
president, be able to stand where he
was standing, facing the large audi
ence that had gathered for the pur-
pose of pledginG its support to the
president, that senator would be con-
WINGED that his constituents do not
approve OF his action.
1--WE do not want war;" continued
the speaker. 1--WE do not want war
with Germany or with any other coun-
| try. Those acquainted with condi-
lions know that the country IA not
prepared for war and the president
knows these conditions and does not
| want war. During the past three
years President Wilson has kept us
out Of conflict and he has done this
despite the attacks and ridicule that
have been heaped upon him. But
| through 1t all he has had the courage
to stand up for his country.
However, the end Of his patience
has come. The German emperor has
taken the last step and President Will
son has ordered q halt. He has done
the only thing possible under the cir
cumstances and he asks If the people
of the country are behind him. The
emperor Of Germany undertakes to
block of a section Of the high seas
and states that any neutral ships
found within that area are to be sunk
He undertakes to pick out q partic-
ular harbor Falmouth, and dictate the
number of American ships that are
to be run each week to and from this
port-provided we agree to paint
our ships in a manner to suit his
fancy.
"This action was a challenge to this
country and to the whole world, q
declaration Of war against every neu-
trail nation.
"And now the time arrives when we
are to declare that we stand back OF
the president who refuses to accede
to these outrages and to show that we
are patriots who will stand up for the
rights OF our country"
Major Steele then introduced Rev
Frost, who said that he felt like adj
dressing the assemblage not as cit
liens OF America. but as citizens OF
Fargo. "Such is the tragedy OF peace
said the Rev. Mr.. Frost. I'VE forget
in peace. that we are American citi-
zens and are intensely interested only
in ourselves and the immediate local
ity In which we live. Then suddenly
something happens to disturb our
peace and we are confronted with the
fact that we are not living for our
selves alone, but that the whole nation
has claim upon us. We are now
facing a crisis that will test our pat
riotism. The president Is asking for
the support Of the people In the
greatest crisis that this country has
ever faced. There are some Of us
who do not like to look such issues
squarely in the face, but the time has
come when we must.
I'VE are facing momentous events
The ideals of American independence
are at stake and the president cannot
lie down and let these rights be
trampled upon. We should thank God
for Wilson. He has shown himself tc
be true patriot in every way and he
has done everything that honorably
could be done to keep this country out
| of war. But there is limit to which
anything can go and the president Ii
now taking action when our rights are
being luIrlngeQ with the DeIleT Tnal
the people Of the country are behind
him.
while we are sitting peacefully
here the fatal shot may be fired thai
will cause the brave men OF this coun-
try to take up arms for the preserva-
ton of our land. This may be the
fatefn a that thing viii hap
pen that will force our president to
call the nation to fight.
I'm this issue the ideal Of American
life is at stake. The great country In
which we live is founded on the prin-
ciples of justice to the Individual as
against the divine right OF kings. It
Is our belief that the people can be
trusted to govern themselves and we
are pledged to develop these rights.
IF we go to war it will not be en-
tireIy for ourselves but for the sake
Of the world. The world believes in
our ideals and it is up to us to bring
these ideals to the world. We took the
first step into the world for world ex-
pansion when we set Cuba free and
we are now leaders III the progress Of
the world"
The speaker then said that during
the past fifty years a system has been
built up that has for its aim the dc