Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-21
Gronna And Helgesen Deserved
Censure, Writes Geo. B. Winship;
Tells of Pacifists in 81; War
Must go to Decisive Victory

their disloyal sentiments into the
platform of the national democratic
convention Of 1854. which nominated
Geo. B. Mcclellan for president, and
brazenly went before the people and
asked for an endorsement Of their
insane proceedings. But the people, in
the mass. were not of that stripe;
they repudiated the work Of the
pacifists and copperheads, reelected
Lincoln by big majority. and cop
perheadism was stamped into the
ground for the time being.
In every community throughout the
north there were groups Of these
pacifists who freely mingled and CO.
operated with similar group of cop
perheads. The joint work and influ-
ence OF, these agitators had a depress-
ing effect upon the loyalists, for
much of the time that should have
been devoted to the cause Of the union
was given to the suppression of dis
loyalty at home. These truly unde-
sirable citizens not only refused to
participate in the war themselves, but
others, refused to render aid to the
needy families Of soldiers at the
front, and in every way possible plac-
ed obstacles in the path of the union
lists. OF course, the present-day pa
cihst has not yet reached the grossly
offensive stage, and he is now only
unwittingly cooperating with the
enemies OF our country; but If actual
war should como he will soon be in
active cooperation with the positively
disloyal element that will infest every
community. In other words. the con-
dition which prevailed in most north
ern communities during the civil war
will again prevail in the event Of war
with a foreign country. The paciflst
does not mean to be unpatriotic or
disloyal. but the logical result of his
conduct is to lend aid and comfort to
the enemy; besides he is generally
used as cat's-paw by the disloyal
citizen who will abound in the bushes
on every hand. Should war come. one
Of the first things that should be done
in every community is to separate
the goats from the sheep. as 1t were,
and ascertain positively where and
how many enemies of our country
abide in the neighborhood.
Whatever the pretext. this, the
greatest war Of history. is a struggle
between autocracy and democracy. II
has its economic bearings. also: but
forms OF government are at the bot
tom Of the casus belli. The divine
right Of kings is being weighed. and
the process Of Weighing must go on
until the scale reads . final and def
mite judgment. Peace without VIC
tory" is myth, ana should deceive
no one. The principles involved in
the war must be fought to q conclu-
sion, and somebody must get the
Knockout" Any other decision will
prove futile for permanent peace. II
would be truce. With strength re-
newed, after the lapse of few years,
the war would be resumed. There are
principles that must be permitted to
stand, or that must fall. and the fall
Of them be final. Either~autocracy or
democracy must vanish from the
earth or remain separate and apart.
They cannot hold council together,
and they mix no more than Oil and
water. Here, In this country, we have
taken q stand for democracy, and we
must be prepared to defend our po-
sition, no matter what the cost may
be. Really, we should give physical al
well as financial help to our fellow
democrats In other countries: but II
we cannot do 10 because Of unpre-
we at least, should wake
up and put Ourselves In readiness to
defend our own country when Its eov-
ernment and ingtitutions are assaiied
by the legions Of autocracy. In order
to be thus prepared patriotic citixena
must be put at5the helm OF the shin
Of state. ana the pAciflsts and hia
hyphenatAd partn1r should be die.
placed wherevkr FOUND in positions 81
trust ana rODD6t1nlb litH. Z Z \ ~ IS .sss5