The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-05
FEW THOUGHTS FOR REG
lSTRATioN DAY.

This holiday carrys a solemn mean
ing 10 the people of this land. It is a
new day on the national calender. 1t
is the day on which our young men
place their names in the list of those
who may be called upon for military
service. To all others it should be a
day of conseeration to the ideals of
this republic, of stern resolve that the
and saved at Appomattox shall not be
lost to Prnssianis.n. the most despotic,
ruthless and cruel rule ~the world has
ever known.
With the stroke of the clock this
morning began the turning OF wheels
in the great machine for the conscrip-
ton of fighting men. From the lofty
forests of Maine to the Pacific, from
the snow clad peaks of Montana to
the everglades of Florida rolls a vast
army of millions from the youth and
strength and flower of the land What
IA wonderful pageant 20 the minds
eye it all is. And what is it all for? 1t
is to make you, our fellow country
men secure in your God given rights
of liberty and human justice. 1t is to
save democracy, not for you alone but
for the world. 1t is to save your
homes, your wives and daughters and
sons from the tragedies of Belgium.
Is that looking too far? Not at all.
Every hour brings the danger closer
to your hearthstone. Russia has been
made all but helpless by revolution.
The poison of German propaganda has
made traitors in her council cham
bers. There are men crying for peace
because they say by that alone is
Russia to be saved from anarchy. We
are gravely doubtful that Russia can
be returned as a fighting force With
Russia out, with the German sub
marines taking Il great toll of ships
each week, with Japan jealous and
waiting to strike, who is to say that
this nation of ours is not within the
zone where it may fight for its very
life.
And let us not pass lightly over an :
other danger. Within our borders are
enemies of the republic Within
1Wenty-four hours the streets and
doorsteps of Missoula have been
covered with a vicious, false and al
together hateful propaganda calling
upon men to refrain from registration
when the existence of the nation is a,
stake. Here at home, these aeitators
are a handful of mental detectives, Ir
the great cities they number thou
sands. Even in the great universities
of the east may he found misguidce
men and women who arr. CRYING for =
peace at an hour when the future o
when peace. as they would haze ii
would MEAN another worlds urheaya
of war within ten Yeats
We must Ircpar, therefore, TO dea
with trouble at home as well n:
abroad. The boys who are TO give thei
lifes' blood III tho trenches of Franc,
must have every ounce of the nation,
strength behind them. \ step tnn IA
and these agitators at home win !,
dealt with as the draft riots wcr
Tnelled during the Civil war.
When we pause to think, IN
reasoning of these so called con
scientious objcctors is absurd as it !
dangerous. Suppose they had their wa
and pulled the United States out c
the war upon which it has entcrc,
What would happen? Within a fe,
months France and England might l.
reasonable man doubt that the tur
of the United States would come next
You, our countrymen, your familie
the conscientious objectors. the Social
lists and anarchists and |. w. w
would writhe under the heel of II
Prussian junkers just as the Belgian
are writhing today. Only the logic
experience is needed to teach that lie:
son.
There is nothing overdrawn or in
possible in that picture. If it is not
become . reality it will be because II
American spirit is alive, and awake
the danger and will prepare for it.
It is not for any citizen to decit
what the nation may do or may n
n do. The Representatives Of all citizen
duly elected and authorized to spea
| Ind act for the people. have decide