Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-30

have repressed and held in check our
feeling of gratitude to France FOR
services rendered long ago?
II we can give straight answers to
these questions we are doubly fortified
for the war.
And, If these questions suggest them
selves to us, time and time again, IL
is not because we have our doubts.
but because the more tudicially ana
cold bloodedly and impartially we
cross examine ourselves, the more evil
dent 1t becomes that we either mad 10
go into this war or surrender our
charter as a free people.
Two prodigious facts stood out be-
fore us at the beginning Of the strus-
gle All the sophistries and indirec-
lions Of the diplomats. all the green
books and blue books and white books
flooding the world. all of the libraries
that Will be written In explanation ana
defense never can remove or even al
ter these two mountain peaks OF truth
One fact was that Germany delioer-
ately forced the war because 1t seemed
that the fortunate day" had arrived
when the continent Of Europe could be
pounded into submission.
The other fact was that Germany
deliberately broke her word OF honor
and outlawed herself by the brutal in
vasion Of Belgium.
With these two facts looming n
front of them, the American people I'M
mediately and instinctively turned
against Germany Our sympathies
were given whole heartedly to the al
lies because they couldn't go anywhere
else. The issues were too plain. The
evidence was too unmistakable. Great
Britain and France did not lead us.
We were led by an old fashioned and
elemental preference for decency ana
fair play.
After that we sold food and NUM-
tons to the enemies of Germany
The Germans have always insisted
upon their right to sell guns and shells
anywhere in the world at any time
Our soldiers in the Spanish American
war were killed by German bullets firec
from German guns. Every Filipino
insurrecto hiding in ambush to get one
of our men carried a German weapon
that had been struggled to him.
We had right to sell our products
to Great Britain and France. And no"
thank goodness we can say openly
what we have felt all the time. that
it was our duty to supply them.
With half Of the world on fire, a
good many dark places are being IL
Illuminated. This war has vindicateo
British policies and crowned France
with a glory that never can perish.
Germany with all of her cleverness
foresightedness and preparedness toi
any contingency has persistently blum
dered in her guessing as to other ma
tions. Germany played every other
country In the world for either a. foo
or a coward.
The disappointment of Germany mas
been the triumph Of democracy. There
isn't a. reasonable doubt on the hor;-
ION. We are lined up with the friends
Of humanity against the arch-devils OF
despotism.
If the Lusitania had not been sunk;
if our men, women and children mao
not been murdered: If our flag had not
been fired upon; if we had not received
insolent orders to tie our ships to the
docks: If spies and agents had not
blown up our factories; If Mexico anc
Japan had not been urged to attack
us: IL Germany had never struck us
in the face, even once-we would be-
long in this war just the same ano
duty would call us to do the very WORK
we are taking up today.