The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-12-18
GIVING OURSELVES

GIVING OURSELVES
Mr.. H. w. Harrison, of Washington,
d. c., who represents the United States
government in the drive that is being made
for the sale of Thrift Stamps and War
Savings Certificates, in his address to the
committee leaders here, stressed not only
the spirit of patriotism back of the move
ment, but he called attention to the fact
that this, and all work which the nation is
doing in behalf of their country, is self pro-
tective.
This is the hardest fact to drive home
to the American people. We speak, most
of us, as if the war were something far off,
to which are magnanimously contributing
Even those of us who have given our sons
or our brothesS or other loved ones to the
cause, keenly feel the personal loss,
speaking generally, seem to look upon our
part IN the war a something we are doing
rather for the larger cause of humanity.
the upho1ding Of an IDEAL And if we are
doing anything, if we sacrificing it is
indeed for principles of liberty and our
sense of obligation to humanity But the
war is not merely an idealistic movement
for the freedom of other nations or Of
future generations We are not sending
out men to get liberty for others only, but
mothers and wives and sisters and chill
dren.
When the United States entered into
this war with the Central Powers it en-
listed IN cause that was just and right
eous. Not in any vain spirit of retaliation
was the gauge of battle taken up, but with
the realization that liberty for the world
was in the balance,-that the future of all
those who love liberty was endangered.
And no less on this continent than abroad
If only that fact might be impressed
upon the mind and heart of every person
in these United States victory would be
much nearer than it now is. No ideal is
worth anything unless it can be practically
applied. We may talk about liberty. and
preach its principles in public hall and from
church pulpits, we may teach its principles
to our children and we may boast of our
freedom, but until are willing to sacri-
flee for it. until we do sacrifice for it: we
have not a realizing sense of the meaning.
of liberty and its sacred obligations.
Mr.. Harrison told an anecodote which
illustrates this in striking way. Two
officers were talking on the battlefield and
one, who had been in the service six
months was going home to England on
furlough. But the Frenchman, who had
been serving since the opening of the war.
said: II have no home. I have no fur
Tough. I am going back to the line I
shall die for France. They have taken nv
home and my wife and my little girl. The
firing line of France is my home. And my
life is my country's."
The simplicity of that story epiton1izes
the spirit that must actuate each and
every one of us, if this war is to be won
We must give ourselves for Our country
Its salvation depends not upon few but
upon the many Words of encourage
ment are needed and words of counsel but
it is the deeds that count, it is the actualitv
that we make possible that is going to help
the government. We must give our time
in work, real constructive work. we must
give our money,-for money and time are
what is needed now. We must eliminate
the non-essentials in our homes not only
in order that money may be saved but that
labor may be saved for labor as much as
money is needed to win this war. And it
is not up to part of us, but to all of us, to
win this war. 1t is our now. We are
all on the firing line, in one way or another,
and we must be willing to literally give
ourselves for Our country.
The C1rys have been 1osino II, MaSSacbu