The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-19
TRAITORS TO AMERICA.
ROOT AND GOMPERS DE,NOJNCE
PACIFIST PRO.GERMANS.
National Security League Holds Pa.
triotic Rally in Chicago-Alicn
Enemies and Native Traitors Work.
ing Together to Cripple Govern.
mCnt,

oihPeIo 10 HSnC until world |
terrorism had been overthrown at q |
patriotic rally held here tonight by
'he National Security League for the
announced purpose of indicating
Cmcago of alleged intimations of
Inc men who are speaking and
"ri''ng and printing arguments
against the war and against everv-
'i'hs that is being done to carry on
the war are rendering more effec-
tive service to Germany than thcv
ever could render in the field with
arms in their hands," declared tho
former secretary of State. amid
cheers. 1T is impossible to resist
the conclusion that the greatest part
OF them are at heart traitors to the
United States.
Ihere are some who doubtless dc
not understand what this struerl.,
really u.s."
Al this point the speaker was inter-
rupted by cries Of Hello Bill" and
departed from the text of his speech
to declare:
L don't think he understands it.
But think he will some time"
Declaring that General Grant said.
Let us have peace" only after LEG
had surrendered" Mr.. Gompers as
serted that after kaiserism sur
renders then we too will have peace"
There can be no peace" he con.
unued, while there is a Teuton on
the soil of France. There must be no
peace until they are driven from out
ragged Belgium"
Judge Jacob M. Dickinson presid-
ed as chairman in the absence OF
GOV. Frank o. Lowden, who te!c.
sraphed his regrets as follows:
Springfield is the storm center of
IA1nols just now and 1 must remain
at my post. The great majority OF
workmen here are loyal but sinister
influences are at work to involve Ia
Dor in a hostile attitude toward the
government. We must separate these
two forces. To do so we must give
larger recognition to loyal labor Or
ganizations such as those represented
by Mr.. GOmpers. Above all, labor
and capital are equally interested in
maintaining internal order while this
war Is on. It will do no good to
win battles abroad if we can not
maintain peace at home"
In defining the attitude of citizens
toward the conduct of the war and
incidentally what constituted being a
traitor, Mr.. Root said:
1.-The declaration of war between
the United States and Germany com
pletely changed the relations Of all
the inhabitants of the country to the
subject Of peace or war.
Before the declaration everybody
had a right to say whether the United
States should enter the war or re-
main at peace. But the question OF
peace or war has now been declared
by the president and congress, not
suddenly or rashly but advisedly
after repeated diplomatic warning to
Germany, known to the whole Coun-
"A nation which declares war anG
goes on discussing whether it ought
to have declared war Or not is impo-
tent. A democracy which can not ac-
cept its own decisions but must
keep on endlessly discussing the
question already decided, has failed
in the fundamental requirements OF
self-government. and if the decision
is to make war the failure to exhibit
capacity for self-government by ac-
ton will inevitably result in the loss
Of the right of lf-government
But after the decision in favor Of
war the country has ranged itself
and the only issue left for the indi-
vidual citizen is whether he is for or
against his country.
The men who are speaking and
writing and printing arguments
against the war now are render
ing more effective service to Ger
many than they could render in the
field. The purpose and effect of what
they are doing is SO plain that it is
impossible to resist the conclusion
that the greater part of them are at
heart traitors to the United States
and wilfully seeking to bring about
the triumph Of Germany and the hu-
initiation and defeat of their own
country.