Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-12-26
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20, 1917.
OUR NEW YEAR OF GRACE.

To-day The Courier goes to it's
readers for the last time in the year
1917. Tho year whose days are now
speeding quickly into the past has
been one Of great moment to the
United States and to the world From
nation standing apart, participate
ing but little directly in world al
fairs, save by example and influence,
we have by swift turn Of events
been ushered into world sphere
never dreamed Of. These wonderful
changes have come so quickly that
we can scarcely realize our present
position as nation, as a people. The
stroke has left us bewildcred for the
moment. but with men big enough
ana great enough at the head or our
affairs to work out the national prob
lens satisfactorily
And tho new year l9lS---what Of
1t? What does it hold in store for
us? Out Of the trials that have be-
gun in 1917 and that must continue
and increase during 1918 will be
fashioned greater and better coun-
try than we have ever had. We must
rise to the occasion and meet the
new order OF things as IL continues
to open up. We must face the reali-
Ties OF war bravcly, giving up loved
ones to die for liberty now as our
forcfathers died for liberty years ago
The pangs OF the present must be
borne that the glory OF the future
MAJ "" rnio'uG AJ IhoGv roaa tuNon
us. iuSt 05 "c enjoy thp ,Jurnu, ,tG.
crty mad" pa,&n!a through ta. aa.ri.
hre and blood of our lcrufg,ner,
We believe Lhore 20 MOI :, mal. In
our country to-day who would if he
could erase from the pages OF history
the record placed there by the heroes
OF tho past. We may well shrink
from the great task that is before us,
but there will be no faltcring, no
looking back, no compromise. The
world is being scourged to-day with
the iron rod OF autocracy that the
Tree peoples OF the earth may rescue
the oppressed from the grip OF the
tyrant. The cause Of the German,
the Austrian. the Turk and the Bull
garian is as iniQuitous as was the
system of slavery that had large part
In bringing the war we fought among
ourselves so recently as to be within
the memory Of many Of us to-day
The cause Of the Allies-Our cause
Is as just as was the cause OF liberty
and freedom in those days now hap
p!!y gone. God had His work that
mad to be done through human
agency, and it was done. to His glory
and to our good. 1t Is, we believe,
Gods work that must be done on
the battlefelds Of Europe-not that
God willcd it, but that He has per-
m1ttcd 1t as human scourge to cor
rect human evils. We are fighting,
not through our wishes or our de-
sires. but through the evils that were
thrnst upon us by the iniquities Of
the system OF government that has
come TO be recognized as inhuman
and hcllish.
From the great struggle that is
now going on, and which will doubt
less continue through at least the
greater part OF the coming year.
better Horld. a purcr world, is going
to emerge. Trying as is the prospect
that thousands OF our young men
may be called upon to suffer in the
great struggle. yet glorious and sus-
tanning is the Thought that the Great
Ruler Of the Universe has called
upon our nation to enter the lists in
opposition to oppression, inia,ity
and manity, and to defend right
GOusncss and liberty.
Let us "gird up our loins" and
stand steadfast to the principles that
have ever been the hope and strength
Of our nation--ready to do and to
). fathers purchased for us with their
blood.
The New Year will bring grave re-
spoDsibilities to each Of us. Let us
seek to measure up to the greatness
of the task. Our country has always
rested It's cause on the Judgment OF
God. We will continue to do so now
and in the future, doing our part as
God gives us strength and leaving
the results with Him.
u The great hope Of The Courier Is
that soon we may be able to carry to
our readers the glad message that