McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-12-21
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Ar,,v,,1,, E;,,o
Jimmie and a German Boy Clash
Must Do Three Things to Save
Country.
Number Five

III WIS WARM evening. SO UNcte
Dan went out to lawn seat under tnP
spreading branches of the great tree
that suggested the farms name of Oak
Hin. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
ing for him, so Uncle Dan was cap
tured by the boys on short order.
SAY Uncle Dan" Billie began. "We
had a red-hot argument at school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
that German schools were miles ahead
of our schools ami that no one could
come up to the educated Certain. Well,
Jimmie got hot under the collar and
handed !: back to INN good and plenty.
Jimmie said If their education taught
them to torpedo Lusitanias. sink hos
pital ships, murder hundreds of wom-
EN- and children, make slaves of
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all sorts of crimes,
then we did not want that kind of
education here. What do you think
about it. Uncle Dan? l told Jimmie
you spent a lot Of time in Europe and
knew all about schools, so give US your
opinion"
"Well," replied Uncle Dan, deliber-
ately, 'ihe German schools are very
thorough; they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
industrial training given there is prob
ably the best TO be found. The schools
as whole. however, in my opinion,
appeal to the head only, and never to
the heart. The aim and trend is TO
make the individual blindly submits
slye to the Prussian plan of world do
minion; they teach that it is the des-
tiny of Germany to rule the world, and
that to the glory and advance of Ger
many, in this plan, all things must give
way; that the kaiser as head of the
state. can do no wrong If he carries
forward the plan of world control.
Some of the greatest teachers and
preachers even defend and justify her
hcartless crushing. of Belgians and the
many other atrocfous crimes she has
committed in this war Thank God,
our American education reaches both
the head and the heart. 1t is an edG'
cation with soul. and we must main
tain the high idcals we have fixed. In
O word, in Germany, the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
ment. while here the government ex-
lists TO serve the people"
"Just wait a minute" interrupted
Billie Say that over again slowly, SO
can write it down"
Uncle Dan, smilingly, complied.
Billie exclaimed: snow, we will hand
that nut out for Carl to crack.
Carl. you know" continued Billie,
"has a very smart father who keeps
him posted on the German arguments.
Carl said our government was only
IN experiment anyway; that it would
not last twenty years, and that it
might burst up any old time. Jimmie
asked him if Germany was so mighty
good, why they did not go back there
to live"
sour government will 90 on forever,
won't II, Uncle DanT'
snow" said Uncle Dan, 'you are
raising a big question, and one that
has troubled me for years. Our gov
eminent is still in the experimental
stage; in fact, II is the greatest ex-
pertinent ever undertaken, and If pop
uiar government is to be successful,
few things must be done, otherwise, to
paraphrase the great lincoln, the gov
'ernment of the neopie, by the people
and for the peop'e. viii perish. II Is
my firm conviction" said Uncle Dan,
in very impressive manner, shat If
our country is to go on, as we hope
and pray, we must very quickly do
at least three things, and will name
them in the order of Importance as 1t
appears to me:
"First, ADOPT compulsory universal
military training Of all young men
physically fit before they reach the
nge of twenty years.
"Next, require that every foreigner
who comes here to live must, within a
reasonable time. say year, declare
his intention of becoming an American
citizen and take the necessary steps to
do so, thereby. from that moment, as
Stunning all the obligations of citizen
ship of our country, and that means he |
must defend our flag upon equal terms |
with our native born. and if he is not !
willing to do this, he should be sent
back from whence he came" I
"That's the stuff" exclaimed Billie.
"And, finally, enact such legislation
as win make voting compulsory. Pop
ular government is based upon the /
participation Of all and the rule of
the majority, and democracy cannot |
continue and be successful unless we
live up to the spirit Of the institu-
ton.
THE first step, however, is the pass
ing of the Chamberlain bill for univer-
sal military training. If you will get
the leading citizen, and especially the
editor of your paper. to write personal
letters to your congressman and both
senators, urging their support. 1t will /
help enormously
az see by the morning papers," said i
Uncle Dan, shat the Rotary clubs Of
the entire country, the livest, most eff
Gent organization to be found, have
unanimously decided to get back of
the Chamberlain bill and give it loyal
and enthusiastic support. They will
work with the Universal Military
Training league to accomplish this Inn
oortant niece of Legislation, which win
do more than anything else to make ia
reai nation with common view.
point, bring us back TO sane living, and