Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-10-05

Germany boldly proclaims that
might is right. America confidently
declares that right is might.
Germany has declined every prop
osition and baked every plan de-
signed to lessen the liability Of war.
America has been a leader amongst
those peace-loving nations who would
substitute justice for force as the
final arbiter in human affairs.
Germany exalts war and lauds ag-
gression and conquest. America re-
luctantly takes up the sword only
when driven to that step in mainte-
nance of her rights or in defense of
civilization and humanity.
1t is bad enough to have these Ger
man beliefs prevail in Germany; but
the divinely Amounted has given out
the word that no conflicting beliefs
must prevail elsewhere in the world
and the German people have been
drilled into accepting 1t as their duty
to impose these beliefs on all the
world by force when their war lord
commands.
Inevitable was the clash between
these two nations whose respective
principles and practices are az far
apart as the two poles and as irrec-
onciliable as fire and water; and
lucky is America to have chance to
now join others in vanQuishing THIS
political dragon instead Of having to
later cope with it alone!
Though there is practical unanim-
ity Of American citizens in support Of
this war, there IL q small minority
which is unduly noisy and offensive
ly and mischievously busy. am not
one of those who doubts the fealty
of naturalized citizens who were born
subjects Of our present enemy; for
there is less likelihood of and less ex-
cuse for disloyalty in one whose
allegiance is the accident of birth.
Nor do expect my loyal fellow citi-
zen of German birth or ancestry to
hesitate to denounce the Prussian-
lied Germany he renowned for dem
ocratic America. No more should he
shrink from waging this righteous
war against his fatherland than did
Americans of English lineage shrink
from the wars America waged against
their mother country.
/ But what I do fear and would
warn against today is the apathy and
lethargy of the American people gen.
orally, due to the fact that they have
not yet seen the horrors nor felt the
Ipangs of this cruelest of wars, and
their underestimation of the enter
prise to which their country is COM
mitted.
j Literally have all sections respond
ed to the Liberty Loan and Red Cross
calls. Gloriously have the boys Of
Oregon and few other states rallied
|, to the colors. But the feeble response
!. in most parts of the country to the
. presidents call for volunteers per-
Isuades me that many of our country
linen do not yet realize the serious
, mess of our connection with this war.
Let us not deceive ourselves or be
, deceived as we were ON the subject OF
, preparedness. President Wilson has
, lbeen appealing and imploring for
some time for q fraction Of that mill
lion men whom our old friend Of
Chautauqua fame 30 namboyantly
predicted would spring to arms be-
| tween dusk and dawn when America
went to war.
, Let us not think our adversaries
will be easily defeated. Let 10 not
imagine this war will soon be ended.
Not until the rank and nle of the
American people are fully aroused TO
, 1.-The mighty power Of the enemy whose
challenge we have accepted and the
, magnitude and duration of the task
I 1--we have undertaken and the proba-
bility Of great sacrifice and suffering
! before that task IL done will their
J best efforts be forthcoming. They
, will be aroused when they read the
names Of near ones anu dear ones In
: published casualty lists. But the
, arousal, the awakening, should occur
before those sad days come. And the
/ lsooner 1t does occur the smaller VIII
lbe those lists and the earlier Will
, victory be attained.
r Never before has our country faced
. Isuch q formidable foe. Never before
, has she 80 needed the loyal and undi-
, lvided support Of all her sons and
daughters. Never before has she 20
. required all her wealth and resources.
! And, on the other hand, never before
has she engaged in war with - great
justification and for - worthy ends.
: With one exception, only her own
, Interests and destiny were directly
involved in her previous wars. That
exception was waged and won in be-
: half Of the relatively few people who
, Inhabited the neighboring island OF
I Cuba. But America enters into this
! greatest armed conflict Of history to
! drive barbarious invaders from many
, lands, to release many people from
the oppression of tyranny, to shake
) from the throats Of many nations the
I murderous grip of the mailed INST OF
mighty despot whose lustful ambi-
y ton is to rule the world.
True, before we unsheathed the
Sword, our own rights had been In
! vaded and our own liberties had been
? threatened-in measure one hundred