The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-25

into Asia, they cannot be starved. In
a short time now they will harvest an
other crop. and the figures show that
Germany produces enough vital food
to care for her people. Germany has
suffered heavy losses, but from all
that can read her spirit is unb!'oken.
She still has confidence in her ulti-
mate triumph. Engalnd is the back
bo" of the allies. Germany believes
II she can so terrify the world, that
ships will not enter the submarine
zone, that she can starve England into
submission. So far as the United
States IS concerned she has no real
friends in Europe. We should go into
the war strictly in self-defense. to pro-
tect our property and citizens on the
high seas and stop right there.
1t is not altogether impossible that
we may find ourselves pitted single
handed against the greatest military
machine the world has ever known.
Let us not deceive ourselves the this
war will be on paper. We should
have universal military service. We
should equip and train a field force OF
at least two million men. The time
for disarmament will come after this
war is over and the United States
n,,, ,ncfS Al
wealth. without any army and navy,
makes us prize to tempt the cupid
ity Of the nations who have all their
capital invested in military establish
ments. No European power with
the possible exception of France in
our friend except to use us for selfish
ends, and not one but would levy tri-
butes upon us at the first opportunity
The foundation Of our foreign pol
icy has been Washington's farewell
address and the Monroe doctrine.
There was never a time when it was
more important to avoid entanelinS
alliances. America has the
men and money. We are protected by
a great ocean on both sides and VIC
should adhere to establish American
doctrine. We can cooperate as we did
In the Boxer trouble in China and
that is as far as we should go. A
foreign war by this republic for con
quest or for anything except the pro-
lection of American lives and property
or the maintenance of the Monroe
doctrine will be the grave Of rcpubl-
can institutions. Monarchies MAY
flourish and aristocracies always fat
ten on war. but the other course
means a military republic. and thi'
soon becomes subject to personal gov
ernment.
America is the worlds leader in dc
mocrncy. Germany the worlds leade:
the German people, it is to overthrow
an ideal which. if it triumphs, woulC
enslave the Germans as much ~
ourselves. There were two autocratH
in Europe. The Car. also a modiii.
cation of the word Caesar, is over
thrown because he was secretly tryin"
to aid the Kaiser. There is something
wonderfully contagious in the spirit OF
democracy. 1t travels on the wings
of the wind and is borne On the rays
of the sun into the dark places. Lc.
us pray that the air Of freedom be
carried westward across the war
swept plains OF Poland into Germany
and Ovcrturn the other autocrat.
Modern democracy was born in the
free cities along the Rhine and there
are three republics in the German
empire. The republic of Germany
would soon end the war. That would
be peace without victory" except
the victory of error over truth, and
the triumph of Germanys better self
over tryanny and selfishness. For two
generations the world has been steep
ed in love of money. and greed OF
gain has smothered our noble in
stincts. 1t is time for a reaction. The
reaction from the brutality of the
dark ages gave the world the days Of
chivalry and the crusaders. The spir-
it OF the crusader is always latent in
the human breast. 1t only needs to
he famed into flame, and the atti-
tude Of Germany will be sure to kindln
the fanaticism Of mankind every
where. In another year it will reach
a point where the destruction of Ger
many will be inevitable. The Rus
sian Duma replying to Germany's
peace proposal said they would listen
to no proposal until Prussiansm was
removed.
Within eiUht year9 Ti,rl;ov DOrtn