Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1917-09-06

before the war were sellinN their gO0us
TO the belllgerents al immense profits.
ard that now those profits are being
| taxed out OF existence and the prices Of
their products controlled by the govern
ment, y sufficient proof that the asser-
ton VIII not stand.
War ProIens Trying.
! Aye, sirs. we are at war with Germany
because of no fault Of our own. We are
at war with Germany in spite OF the
utmost efforts 10 avoid war This gov
eminent could no longer have held Its
head aloft among the nations OF the
world; that flag, the emblem OF justice
and freedom. would no longer have been
respected II we had submitted to further
insults and injuries at the hands Of the
imperial German government. German
| autocracy forced w into this war-they
would not permit us to remain neutral
For over generation children in the
schools OF Germany have been taught
that Americans were no better than ne
groes. They have taught they children
to believe that Germany was to dominate
the world. Bismarck. when asked what
he thought Of America said: Amer
ready we VIII f sck neg b whea
I and dasignedly fostered spirit OF mill
tarism among their people to believe that
Germany was to dominate the world.
Every effort was Bonded toward that end.
| The assassination ofthe Archduke Fer
dinand was but an incident in that plan.
1t was the spark that was to start the
cOnItdBfdl lOn ana the whole Scneme OF
world domination was TO begin with that
! incident They OVERRIDE Belgium, a weak
defenseless and inoffensive people. Their
armies swept across that little country
as mad cyclone mows down everything
in its path. They killed little babies,
they assaulted women, they cut out the
breasts of mothers, and Knocked Chris
tanity by hanging children to the cross
they wrecked beautiful and historic edl-
fices and left ruin and desolation in their
wake. They offered no excuse for over
running Belgium, but merely said that
II had to be done In order to carry out
their military operations. They struck
France and Servia and Montenegro and
Roumana with the same ruthless, bar
barrie and devastating force. Here in our
own country they tried by violence to de-
stroy our industries and our commerce
on the high seas. Their agents and SYM
pathizers in this country blew up bridges.
| burned factories, poisoned foodstuffs
destroyed crops. wrecked railroads and
attempted to dynamite the capitol They
made promises only to break them. BY
system of intrigue and deception I'M
paralleled in the. history Of the world,
they sought to hamstring our govern
ment and by the insidious work of their
spies and conspirators they tried to en-
courage opposition to every policy Of the
President and to create discord and dis
sension among our people. They con-
tiolled newspapers, and through corrupt
means, tried to create public opinion in
behalf of their autocratic enterprises
the minds of our citizens that We had
no legal right to sell our comm erce
abroad. They sent the brazen thinner
man note in an attempt to incite Mexico
20 make war on us and form an allegi-
ance with Japan against us. Like high
waymen standing by the roadside. they
attempted to rob us of our commerce,
sink without warning our ships and de-
stroy our property and murder our wo-
men and children. Day by day they in
suited us and defied us in a thousand
different ways.
Appeals for Loyalty.
1t is for these reasons that we went to
war with Germany, and any attempted
Justification of these outrages and in
suits to our flag and national honor is
inexcusable and indefensible.
There is glory in the mart we are play
ing now. / love to think and to know
that 1t was honor anu justice and liberty
that moved our fathers in '76. In 1885,
when we were a weak and defenseless
nation, our fathers had the courage and
patriotism to defy the great Napoleon,
tho. then master military mind of the
world, In 1872, when we were but
STRIPPING of a nation, with only 20 vessels
of war, our fathers had the courage and
patriotism to defy Great Britain. the then
naughty mistress of the seas, with her
thousand war vessels, for impressing
American seamen and interfering with
American commerce. We did not go to
war in 1912 because our ships had been
high seas for England, in all her mad
conquest for trade and commerce, did not
claim the right to sink our ships or MUIR
der our citizens. We went to war then
for far less serious violation of our
rights, namely, Interference with out
commerce and impressing American sea-
men,
If 1t were right for this nation, under
the splendid leadership of these states.
men and patriots from whose massive
intellects the principles of this govern
A1wv1I
splendid services our independence was
won. to force France to respect our rights
in 1898, and to make war on England in
1912, in defense of the rights and liberties
or our citizens, why was Ii not right,
and our duty, when We have grown rich
and powerful as a nation. to defend those
rights and protect to the limit the lives
and property of our people against Ger
man outlawry-a greater and more just
cause for war? If impressing American
seamen at that time was a just cause for
war, why was ii not a greater and more
just cause for war in April. this year. 4
when American seamen and American
citizens were ruthlessly murdered at sea?
We are great nation, we glory in its
to believe that we have forgotten the
teachings of our fathers and are not now
willing to fight for those principles so
courageously defended and upheld in the
takes every ounce of blood and every
penny Of American wealth.
Issue Clearly Drawn.
We abhor war. All civilized people do,
but a brave and patriotic people when
properly aroused and wnen fighting for
honor, despise the horrors of war and
look only to the causes and principles
at stake. The horror of war did not de-
ter those sturdy patriots under Wash
ington when they crossed the Delaware
and wintered in the shiverIng cold Of VAL
ley Forge. 1t did not deter the gallant
.Inln PanI InnaS when aGkaH ha haA
struck his flag replied from the deck of
the Bonhomme Richard, No / have Just
begun to fight" 1t did not deter that
rugged warrior, the hero of New Orleans,
and~ his faithful soldiers on the field of
Chalmette. 1t did not deter Taylor and
Scott and Davis from leading their COM
mands to victory and renown at Monterey
and Buena Vista. It did not deter the
followers of Grant and Lee from perform
ing those splendid deeds of heroism that
won the admira ton OF the world and ever
since have been an inspiration to the
youth of America. 1t did not deter this
nation from breaking the tyrant grip
on Cuba. and liberating weak and de-
not deter those brave and patriotic boys
who follow the Stars and Stripes on land
and sea, from carrying that banner to
victory over the enemies of mankind
Now, fellow citizens for seven years
have. in part, represented my state In the
halls Of the national Congress and have
fought the peoples fight have tried
In that time to serve nv district and
the people Of my state in a creditable
manner. / haM desired, as one OF your
representatives in Congress, to obtain re-