Evening star., 1917-09-15

field. The purpose and effect of what
they are doing is plain that 1t is i'm
possible to resist the conclusion that
the greater part of them are at heart
traitors to the United States and will
fully seeking to bring about the tri-
umph of Germany anu the humiliation
and defeat of their own country.
The same principles apply to the de-
ciSion of numerous questions which
arise in carrying on the war. Any at
tempt to discourage volunteering or to
oppose ConScription is an attempt to
hinder and embarrass the government
of the United States in the conduct of
the war and to help Germany by pre-
venting our government from raising
armies to fight against her
Somebody has to decide where ar
mics are to fight. The power to make
that decision and the duty to make ii
rest. under the Constitution, with the
President. as r-in-chief. Any
body who seeks to stop the execution
of the order sending troops to France
and Belgium is simply trying to pre-
vent the American government from
carrying on the war successfully. He
is aiding the enemies of his country,
and if he understands what he is doing,
he is a traitor at heart.
Deliberate Enemies of q. S.
at is beyond doubt that many of the
profesSed pacifstS, the opponents of
the war after the war has been entered
upon. the men who are trying to stir up
resistance to the draft. the men who are
melting strikes in the particular
branches of production which are ne
cessary for the supply of arms and mu
nitions of war. are intentionally seek
ing to aid Germany and defeat the
United States. AS time goes on and the
character of these acts become more
clearly manifest. all who continue to
associate with them must come under
h1 n rn
their country.
There are doubtless some who do
not understand what this struggle
really is Some who were born here
resent interference with their comfort
and prosperity and fail to see that the
time has come when, il Americans are
to keep the independence and liberty
which their fathers won by suffering
and sacrifice. they, in their turn, must
fight again for the preservation of that
independence and that liberty. There
are some born abroad who have come
to this land for greater freedom and
broader opportunities. who are swayed
by dislike for some ally or by the SYM
pathies of German k.nship. and fail to
see that the time has come for them to
make good their obligations of their
sworn oaths of naturalization.
Showing Their Ingratitude.
"All these naturalized citizens who
are taking part in this obstruction to
the government in the conduct of the
war are false to their oaths, are for
feiting their rights of citizenship. are
repudiating their honorable obligations
are reouiting by evil the good that has
been done them in the generous and
unstinted hospitality with which the
people of the United States have well
coined them to the liberty and the op-
portunities of this free land. We must
believe that in many cases this is done
because of failure to understand what
this war really is.
This is a war of defense. 1t is per-
fectly described in the words of the
Constitution which esta blished this ma
tion-'to provide for the common de-
fense. and to secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity.'
The national defense demands not
merely force, but intelligence. BY en-
tering this war in April, the United
States awaited itself of the very last
opportunity to defend itself against
subsection to German power before it
was too late to defend itself success
fully.
Plainly, if the power of the German
government is to continue. America can
no longer look for protection to the
law of nations or the faith of treaties
or the instincts of humanity or the re-
straints of modern civilization. II
America had stayed out of the war and
Germany had won, could we have de-
Tended the Monroe doctrine? Could we
have maintained our independence?
For an answer to that question con-
slider what we have been doing since
war was declared. Congress has been
in continuous session, passing with un-
precedented rapidity laws containing
grants of power and of money unex-
ampled in our history.
Response Has Been Generous.
The people have generously re-
thusiasm to the call for the surrender
of money and of customary rights and
the supply of men to the service of the
country. Nearly half year has pass
ed and still we are not ready to fight.
| am not blaming the government. 1t
was inevitable. Preparation for mod
ern war requires long periods of time,
and, the more peaceful and unprepared
for war democracy is. the longer is
the time required.
THE history, the character the
avowed principles of action, the rsani-
fest and undisguised purposes of the
German autocracy made it clear and
certain that. if America stayed out of
the great war and Germany won, Amer
lea would forthwith be required to de-
fend herself and would be unable to
defend herself against the same lust
for conquest, the same will to dominate
the world which has made Europe a
bloody shambles.
The instinct of the American democ-
racy which led it to act when it did
arose from a long delayed and reluc-
tant consciousness, still vague and half
expressed, that this is no ordinary war
which the world is waging. 1t is the
climax of the supreme struggle be-
tween autocracy and democracy. II
autocracy is defeated and the nations
are compelled to recognize the rules of
law and of morals, then, and then only.
will democracy be safe.
ITO this great conflict for human
rights and human liberty America has
committed herself. There can be no