The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-27
PATRIOTIC DAY ADDRESS.
SYNOPSIS or SPEECH DELIVER
ED BY HON. "A. r.. LEVER.


the Theme OF His Argument
america Must Defeat Germany tn
s,ave Democracy and Civilization.
sixteen years ago I-began my first
campaign for Congress i'm the old
Court House at this place. re-
member that my appeal was made
direct to the voters of the county. L
was then a mere boy. but the sympa-
thetic hearts OF the citizenship OF
this generous county reached out to
me and took me in. and during all
the intervening time / have found
willing and ready friends among you.
come TO you today. ripened with
the experience OF the years that
have passed since my first meeting
With you. i come to you at the most
momentous period In the tide of
time; I come to you TO discuss with
you the most tremendous problem
that ever confronted a free people. 1
beg you 10 listen to me as try
calmly and without passion TO pre-
sent the American side of this ques
tion.
4 am glad to have the opportunity
OF presenting such an issue TO the
people Of the county which claims the
dist OF the immortal Con. Sumter.
am glad to discuss the American and
administration side of this question
with the citizenship of the Gamecock
County OF South Carolina.
There may have been differences,
among you before war between this
country and Germany began. but
sfnce April 9Th 1 know. because
Know the people OF this county,
those differences have been buried
anu forgotten in the American spirit
which inspires the heart and thrills
The hope OF every man. Woman and
chald I'm this great audience. There.
are no copper-heads. no slackers. no
disioyal people I'm this county. There
orn few OF this kind in any county in
south Carolina and when the truth is
known there will be fewer. and n
promise you that II God gives me the
physical strength. the truth shall be
known. the world. the fish. and the
devil to the contrary.
My people on both sides OF nv
family came from Germany. In the
early stages OF this war what sympa-
tines 1 dared have. were probably
pro-German, 1 tried to- be neu-
tral. followed the progress of the
war with studious attention. / be-
ran to study the Prussian philosophy.
tried. In my own mind. to apologies
for and forgive certain German afro
cities. but the more / epologized and
forgave. the more. and the worse.
these outrages grew. More than n
year ago Y made up my mind that
the world would either have to whip
Germany or be whipped by her. that
nothing less than this would satisfy
the Prussian autocracy, and today. &c
paraphrase the language of DR..
George 3. cromer. most distin..
guished and patriotic Caroiinian OF
German descent. / speak to you no.
as one OF German extraction. but as
one made up of 100 per cent Ameri-
can.
1 have not a scintllla of sympathy,
or patience, with those whose fore
parents came TO this country to es-
cape the iron rule of Prussianism.
and who have raised their families.
have prospered and grown fat un-
der the protection OF this flag. who
now feel they owe something to the
Fatherland. This is my Fatherland.
Its strong arm protects NIne I'm M
rights. and gives me assurance or
life and liberty. owe nothing 10
Germany. my whole allegiance Is
for my country and my nag.
did not say i'm my speech in Co.
iumbia the other night. so reported
that the man who did not think that
we had a right to go into this war