Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-04-17
TUESDAY, APRIL II, 1917.
fLynchburg, Va, News)

Ii is war! What for the past month has
seemed the inevitable, now merges into the
full force Of impelling actualiiy. The per-
iod of hesitation has gone; the time for
discussion has passed; the opportunity for
conjecture Is no more.
Ii is war! When on yesterday afternoon
at eleven minutes after ] o'clock. President
Wilson signed the resolution declaratory
of the nations war-resolve, he signed the
end of the chapter. His signature was the
last word-it meant the final conclusion of
a long period of American tranquility, of
an American peace with all the world: it
portrayed the elimination of the gravest
issue that has even engaged the earnest,
prayerful, anxious consideration of the
1t was a momentous thing To do. the thing
which Wilson did on Yesterday thing
that will forever be freighted with a conse-
quence designed and destined to affect the
fate of the worA-Bat 1t was not Wilson's
deed, the thing he did-save that in the do
ing, he was discharging the function Of an
exalted agency. lie signed a war resolu-
ton duly and overwhelmingly enacted by
both the houses of the federal congress-,
each one Of which was clothed with full
power to act for and in the name Of the
people. He signed upon his own official
responsibility as the president-the trus-
tee-in-chief of the American people. He
signed, knowing that with his signature,
vent Americas full and unconditional as
sent; that upon his action the public opin-
ion of his fellow citizens placed the seal
of its endorsement that he not only stood
for the people, but that the people stood
for him, in approving the deliberate iudg-
ment of the American congress 10 the eff
feet that German lawlessness and ruth
lessness: German vandalism and frightful-
ness, had driven this nation to the extrem-
ity of war; goaded il to the point where
further liberation or endurance could only
be afforded at n price which could not be
paid unless rendered in the coin of national
shame, of national abasement, of national
cowardice and lasting national infamy.
Such sort of currency this government did
not have at hand, and never has, and,
please God, never will.
How reluctantly. however. America, re-
leases hold upon the hand Of peace and
girds for war; Our people shrink from
national resort to arms, even as n brave
gentleman would avoid a common brawl or
fistcuff-even as he would prefer pacific,
orderly adjustment of controversy to that
involving physical violence. They have
long lived in the atmosphere of peace
they are trained in the arts of peace-thev
have proceeded swiftly, splendidly along
the ways of great achievement by follow
ing the ways of peace. They have been
wont TO kneel each morning and nd even
ing time to the Prince Of Peace. and Ia wor-
ship Him, and seek guidance and inspira-
ton from His Holy chiefship Of humanity.
They looked with horror upon the swift.
headlong, impetuous rush TO war by Eu-
ropes great nations, almost three years
ago. And more vivid has this horror
grown, a has expanded Europe's devas-
tation in life and happiness and wealth UNI
der the terrific clash of armed millions.
Thus America has prayed that into the
bloody vortex she might not be forced 10
enter: that this peace blessed Western
World might be spared the grief and mis-
ery and heart break in which Europe was
engulfed. "God give Us peace"-this pc
tition which from the altar Of every church
and from the fireside of every home has
been ascending TO the chancellery Of
Heaven. But peace was not to be. II did
not seem to divine wisdom good that the
sword of America should remain idle in its
scobbard while humanity was fighting the
battles of human democracy-of n democ-
racy means tina. sort of equality among
men which found its birth in the birth of
the gospel preached by the Nazarene-
while America herself was enduring many