Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-06
DEMONSTRATION AND INSPIRATION

Registration day is over. 1t will be some time before
the returns are all collected. but 1t is safe to suppose
that the number of men registering il not far either way
from the ten million estimate Of the government. For
various reasons a few failed to register. OF these some
we're undoubtedly innocently negligent. Among ten mil
lion people scattered throughout a country a. large as
ours there must always be a few who. no matter how
clearly the issue Is stated, fail to understand q few
others failed to register because Of perversity or because
they listened to unwise and reasonable counsel. All Of
these will be dealt with in due time. The only way in
which g man Of proper age can avoid registration 10 by
secretng himself or perjuring himself about his age.
There was some little disorder, much less, 1t appears,
taking the country over, than Is to be noted on any gen.
eral election day. Those who have boosted that the gov
eminent would be defeated in this test of its authority
will have to talk about something else hereafter. The
tremendous demonstrations against registration and the
draft have not materialized.
The significant thing about the day was not the reg
istration. but the patriotic demonstration which accom-
panied II. No such demonstration has ever before been
seen in Grand Forks as that Of yesterday. Business was
totally suspended. AS evidence Of their interest and APP
prevail the citizens paraded the streets with flags and
music. The trades and professions were all represented.
The employers Of business establishments assembled and
marched under the banners Of their respective houses.
The schools and the churches, the fraternal organizations
and the social and civic bodies of the two cities were
out in fulr force, and all these thousands assembled at
the park and listened earnestly and attentively to the in
spring words that were uttered.
Multiply the proceedings in Grand Forks by the num-
Der Of communities Of the size Of Grand Forks: add the
thousands Of other similar demonstrations in the thou
sands of country villages; add again what was done In
the large cities, where men and women paraded, not by
the thousand, but by the hundred thousand, and we have
in rough outline the picture Of a patriotic demonstration
the like of which has never before been seen in the his
tory of the world. And the tread Of that mighty host Of
peaceful citizens is to be translated into the tramp OF
armed men. pledged. If need be, to put forth the supreme
effort and make the ultimate sacrifice in order that, IN
the words of President Wilson, the world may be made
safe for democracy" Those who have thought lightly Of
Americas participation in this war little understand the
spirit that they have aroused. and little appreciate the
power with which they have to deal.
AS the proceedings of the day constituted a demon
stration. impressive to ourselves, and one which must be
impressive to others, they constitute also an inspiration
whose first influence will be felt among our own people.
an inspiration which must be a potent factor in directing
the thought of this nation and shaping its course. This
war is not a fight over Incidents. It is the expression of
a struggle for principles. A multitude Of incidents So
cial and economic contributed to the precipitation Of the
civil war Of sixty years ago. But as the war progressed.
men came to see more and more clearly that the under
lying issue was not the status Of the slave nor the rate Of
import duties, but rather the tremendous question Of the
pernanency on this earth of democratic government.
That issue was disposed Of so far. as the internal at
fairs Of this nation are concerned. but now the same is
sue confronts us again. and we must face 1t in Its broad
err aspect Of world relationship. Yesterdays exercises
were a stimulus to clear and correct thought, to wise
based on these things il something before which the valor
Of ignorance cannot stand. We have been helped to an
understanding of the right, and the right must prevail.