The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-20


not q war for commercial advantage
this is not a war for AIsace-
Lorraine. IL is the war between two
ideas.
Cannot Be Compatible.
There never can exist again, to-
gether. side by side. these two ideas
II democracy and autocracy. They
cannot be made compatible.
II The speaker pictured the worlds
\ progress down 10 the present time
In the bringing Of freedom OF peo-
peoples upon the earth.
If this war In lost. we 20 back TO
the beginning OF civilization. There
win be no standard or morals, except
success. No standards, except that
might makes right
Tore Up All Treaties.
When Germany tore up her treaty
20 respect Belgtum's neutrality. she
tore up every treaty that she has
made II any nation can do that.
and win. then every treaty ever made
will fall. IL Germany wins. no small
nation win be safe. Their inhabi-
tants would awaken each day to
wonder IL the night has brought TO
them the fate that befelI Belgium. or
II the passing day would bring their
doom.
The whole world would become
an armed camp, a huge arsenal. IL
would mean the disappearance of all
advanced standards of morals. Busi-
ness would no longer be on its pres
emit basis. For IL the nation abandons
faith, the individual standard of
morals must necessarily become the
same.
Spiritual Would Vanish.
The whole basis OF business viii
become that of the survival OF the
greatest strength. The spiritual
would vanish from the earth. and
materialism would be enthroned.
Democracy would be Impossible. This
shield that protects you today would
De stamped as having been found
wanting in the hour of its trial.
DO you realize that this Ia the
most momentous time In the worlds
history. Never before has the world
stood at the threshold of such an
important decision. We have come
20 the parting OF the ways-either
the world takes the road OF autoc-
racy, and oppression, or il takes the
road OF democracy, to greater and
more perfect liberty, to complete
democracy.
War of Rebellion PaIes.
THE war Of the rebellion pales in
to insignificance in comparison. Out
OF that war, there could come only
one or two results. Either we con-
ttnued as one nation, or as two ma
tions. Both would have been re-
publics. But today, IL is a question
Of continuing democracy in the
world.
I wonder If you have been ap-
preciative Of the real significance of
the developments in Italy within the
last few weeks. / wonder il YOU
have really analysed the situation.
Italy is Through.
Germany has dealt the Italians a
staggering blow. Italy, after losing
100000 Of her best soldiers, and a
thousand Of her big guns, may re-
cover, and continue as an effective
part OF this war, but IL is most un-
likely. It is most unlikely.
I never could see any advantage
gained by avoiding a disagreeable
fact. Italy is out Of IL.
When we consider that go, 900 Of
her soldiers have been lost, we must
recognize the fast that they were
her best troops. The flower of her
army. Those that remain are OF her
second line, the older men. Her
young men, the best, ars gone. The
blow TO. her morale Is tremendous.
II is extremely unlikely that Italy
Will ever become an effective light
ing force again in this war.
Russian Situation RESPONSIBLE.
This never would have been true
had there been any hRht In the Rus
slams. The Italian situation pivot
cd upon the Russian situation,
Germany tried them out at Riga, and
found they would not fight, and that
made 10 possible for her TO send
OF her divisions against
Italy. She took them from the east