Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-04
Devotion to the Ideals of the
Government VIII Bring
Peace on Earth.

Cen 4~F unless pc te ignorant ui
VI. ISL. E.f So We have viewed for
yes-s th- preparations for war r-ir-
made rs Germany Ht-.s d-vI lr s
tha. tney might concern IS. tAu uc.-i-
sioraly there was apprehension a Co
the ambition ~ tEs German rulers
10 De to the modern world what tha
Roman rulers were 90 the world ~
their ,ime. when the day came far
which Germany had been 50 long pre-
pairing she suddenly hurled her tre-
mendous military forces at the ad-
Joining nations. Americans read with
amaZement OF the ruthless violation
OF the rights Of neutrals and the reck-
less disregard Of treaty obligations on
the part OF Germany, but the war In
its beginning seemed remote from our
affairs and not necessarily TO affect
American rights. There were advo-
Gates OF each Of the contending ma"
tions among US, and a strict neutral
ity was maintained The cruel treat q
mcnt OF the conquered and enslaVed
Belgians excited our sympathy and
aroused our resentment, but there
was no certainty then that these acts
had the approval OF the German
rulers, so the American republic re
mained neutral, and the American
people hoped against hope that
American might not become involved.
Tried 10 Avert Wnr.
AS events followed events and the
frightfulness OF the German military
policy became more and more evident
those among us who sympathiZed with
the German cause were little by little
alienated. There was still an under.
current of hope that we might not
be drawn into the terrible conflict.
President Wilson endeavored in every
way possible, consistent with the ma
tional honor and dignity. to avert the
disaster of war. on May 27. 1916,
he urged the warring nations To state
their peace terms, and pledged that
the United States would become
partner in any scheme of lasting
peace The answer OF Germany was
evasive and unsatisfactory. Then
came the sinking of the Lusitania and
the wanton murder Of drowning Of
hundreds OF noncOmbatant American
men and helpless women and chill
dren. This act was SO nsCiencelcss
and inhuman, so contrary to all the
rules OF civilized warfare, that a shud-
der of horror ran thruout the Ameri-
can republic. and the few remaining
sympathiZers with the German cause
saw they could no longer continue
their friendship for any nation guilty
Of such deliberate acts OF brutality
and savagery. The demand came
from end to end of the nation to de-
clare war against this monster which
was running amuck among the ma
tions. The president, however, wai
patient lie hesitated to lead the ma
tion into the awful vortex Of war and
endeavored to save the national homo
without that dire necessity. II,
wrote "A note OF protest to the Ger
man rulers. They promised they
would sink no more merchant shipy
without warning. and for a time IL
a.nsa.
but II was only hope to those who
realized the German purpose of world
domination. The president calmly
waited, ignoring the malignant criti
cism and bitter attacks OF some Of
those who insisted that we could no
longer honorably remain out OF the
conflict
No Other Alternative.
AS late as January 90, 1917, the
president addressed the senate, urging
plan of lasting peace among the
nations thru international arrange
ment. a few days thereafter IL be-
came known that on January l6,
1917, the German rulers had sent
secret note to Mexico and Japan, at
tempting to unite them in a war
against the United States, and prom
ising To give Mexico In turn part OF
the United States. Then Germany
no longer keep it's promise not to sink
merchant ships without warning. by
plain Implication IL admitted that II
had given this promise merely To gain
time for preparation for a warfare
of hideous frightfulness. What was
to be done? Every effort OF diploma
cy had been exhausted American
ships were being sunk without warn
Ing, the American flag was being in
suited and fired upon, American men
and women We're being butchered, the
mailed fist of Germany's war lord was
being shaken at American institutions.
German spies infested our country
endeavoring to inCite discomfort,
strikes and even civil war. II was
plain that the German autocracy re
garded this republic with contempt,
and its entrance or nonentrance into
the war as a matter of Indifference.
National honor and national safety
demanded that something should be
done. Submission TO such wrongs
would have been objectionable ma
tionul CoWardiCe. only one thing
could be done, all other means having
been exhausted. The American pco-
pie then realized that II the German
autoCrdcy should overcome the Euro
pean allies, our turn would be next
We had To fight 10 save our honor
to save our national existence, and To
save uelnOtINtN lnluOul lne WoIAds
for democracy and 1utoCraCy can not
exist side by side y state of war
was recognized 10y congress- and thus
reluctantly we were brought into tho
world conflict after the president had
done everything that could fairly be
done to avoid the catastrophe. Now
that We are in the war we see, with
clearer vision, that IL was incvitahl,
that we Should go in, for II is uui
war as much as the war OF Englanc
or France. IL is war to preserv,
our rights and our liberties as much
as theirs,
Fight or Lose All.
1t is now evident to all thinking
Americans that Germany must be
conquered or else Germany win CON
quer us along with the rest of the
world. There have been many fights
for freedom since the beginning OF
history but they were merely local,
while this is universal There have
been many wars for the liberty OF a
race, while this war is for the liberty
Of all mankind. other wars have been
waged to free one people, while this
war is not only to keep ourselves free
but to make free humanity of every
race and of every creed. The outcome
will determine whether the world will