Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-02-21
with which to pay trib0te to the idle

with which to pay tribate to the idle
rich!
What do these men care for the
sons and the daughters Of the poor?
Lot them suffer! What are these poor
TOR but to serve the purpose of the
rich?
War is hell, that goes without apol-
ogy. But what then will you say Of
the greed, the selflshness and the in
human tactics of those who further It?
Fighting for your rights with guns
gas and explosives is barbarie-but
there. may be times and conditions
when you have to do It.
Those times,~ however, are limited
and circumsoTibed by certain condi.
tons. When an enemy tries to cross
our border. and when the life of the
nation is in some way threatened. are
the situations under which war may
be the only alternative!
But when, the ruler of one country
says to the ruler Of another country:
You must do this" and the ruler OF
the other country says: my condition
is such that can not do it," that is
case for arbitration and friendly
discussion OF the pros and cons of the
situation. and not war.
Abraham Lincoln said: mo man is
good enough to own another man."
By the same token there never was,
and never will be, ruler Of one ma
ton good enough or great. enough to
tell the ruler and the people of an
other nation what they must or must
not do. The minute that one nation
beeans to tell another nation what it
must do. that minute the freedom Of
the latter nation ceases to be.
The trouble lis that nations, like in
ddvtduals, are prone to swell up and
get the notion that the salvation Of
the world depends upon their own in
dividual: efforts.
There is nothing to it.
The people of Europe know their
own business and can look after their
own affairs great deal better than
America can do it. We are not the
appointed guardian Of the rights OF
nations. II other nations do not agree
what affair is that Of ours?
| Would It not be better for US to ut.
tend to our own business and let the
affairs Of others alone?
Once upon a time there was man
in this country by the name Of George
Washington. He did good deal for
cred OF some consequence.
What was Washingtons last advice
to the country Of which he has been
called father?
This: "Shun entanging alliances
with Europe"
That was the great admonition OF
his farewell address.
That was the master thought of one
OF the greatest discourses that have
been delivered in this country.
So far we have been able to heed
the admonition and let every loya
citizen OF this country pray to God
that W. may continue to heed it.
Let us pray that we may be guided
by the spirit of George Washington
and not by the damnable greed of the
munttiOn manufacturers and other
corporate interests that will benef1,
by war
The people of this country elected
President Wilson because of one
thing-and only one. That one thing
was the popular notion that he had
kept us out Of war"
BY every rule Of tho political game
Wilson should have lost the last cleo
ton. But he did not He was saveC
because the common people believed
that he had kept US out of war
The merits OF that notion we do moi
care to discuss at this time. Whether
it was Wilson who kept us out OF wal
is matter upon which the doctors
may disagree"
But this fact remains: The common
people believed that he did. The,
elected him because they 80 believed
They elected him In the face of tn,
war.cra2y Roosevelt who protested il
the name of all that which he though
would appeal to the people.
Does this place an obligation upol
President Wilson?
We believe 1t does. We solemn,
believe 1t does.
During the whole of the campaign
President Wilson posed before tn
country az q man Of peace He wa
everywhere hailed as the great peac,
messenger. We all cheered him be
cause we had faith in his ability t,
keep faith with the traditions Of Thu
country. we felt that he believed il
the principles laid down by Georg
, Washington and we rested assure,
, that with him, at the helm OF the shi]
I Of state, there would be no war, un
I less 1t was necessary to repel the In
vasion OF foreign foe.
q Today the people of this country
where they are not blinded by the ir
! sane enthusiasm OF war-jingoists-ar
). praying to God that President Wilso
! may be so guided that he will be abb
y to keep himself out of "entanglin
: alliances" with Europe; and the cou1
4 try out of war.
: That IS the prayer of every mothe
! and father who have to contribute, /
the event OF war. that which is deare
q to them than all else, their children.
e The time is serious, the situation l
critical.
1t is up to every loyal American t
e do his utmost for his country. and tha
utmost should be confined to keepin
: the country out OF war.
,. When we get the notion that we ca
t control the actions and dictate tn
s policy OF the governments of Europ
d then we are treading on dangerou
e ground.
e Let every American be loyal-loya
to the highest principle and the mol
!. lest ideal that the United States hav
d ever stood for-world peace.
n When 1t comes to numbering peopl
In order that few OF the human hog
| AA~k