The Republican journal., 1917-03-29

a-tives Limited, Ogdensburg, NY.
fully served his several parishes, bis
church and the cause of the Master, he
is to enter upon a well earned rest, my
earnest wish for him is that many years
OF usefulness and serenity may await
him and his estmable companion, whom
for many years | have counted among my
choicest friends.
About 1900 miles intervene between
the northeast and the southwest, between
Belfast, Maine, and Springfield, Mis-
souri,. The complexion of the political
situation between the two States varies,
yet On most of the vital problems before
toe country at the present time there
exists much unity of purpose and pul-
suit. The Temperance question is maxi
ing rapid progress. True the liquor in-
terests are strongly intrenched in St.
Louis, Kansas City, st. Joseph and
Spring field. This is due in part to the
presence of large German population
in these cities. Nevertheless the cause
of temperance is making rapid progress,
and unless all signs fail it is only a ques-
ton of few years before Missouri will
join the ranks of the prohibition States.
The attitude of the people toward the
question of war is also measurably af-
fected by the nationality of some of our
citizens. Nor is this fact matter for
surprise. | know from personal expert
ence that it is not easy to uproot love for
ones native country even while avowlng
right Loyalty allegiance to the country of
your adoption. Even here, however,
there exists on the part of many of our
German friends supreme allegiance to
the United States. / have at the pres
we'll along in the eighties, who is bitter
toward the ruling classes of his native
land, while his son, who was horn in this
country is pro-German. Ny individual
attitude toward the war is largely due to
my constitutional temperament. Intel
lectually am more strongly in sympathy
with an aggressive attitude than with
the "watchful waiting policy. MY in
stincts rebel against the idea of submit
ting to such inhuman and destructive ex-
periences as those to which we have been
subjected. Yet l inherently shrink from
the fearful ravages of war. By nature |
am physical coward. 1t requires all the
courage l can command to kill a chicken
or shoot rabbit. l almost pity poor
mouse tortured by kitten. A friend of
mine several years ago was, under the
exigencies of the situation, under the
necessity of killing chicken for dinner,
duty which had uniformly devolved up
on his wife. On this occasion she was
indisposed, so the duty devolved upon
him. Summoning his courage up to it's
highest point, he caught the chicken,
grasped it by the legs and wings, and
with the axe in his right hand laid it's
head upon the block, shut his eyes, rails
ed his arm and having struck the fatal
blow threw the chicken from his hands,
unframed. hardly know what l would
DO If necessity pressed upon me; possibly
| might rise equal to the occasion, as l
have done on few previous occasions.
Once was compelled to shoot favorite
dog. On another occasion | was called
upon to witness an operation on the body
of friend at the request of the family;
but nothing short of the most urgent
necessity could compel me to be present
even at the slaughter of hog, beef
creature or horse. If have ever been
ound Unexpectedly in the vicinity of
fistic encounter between two men l have
always FASTENED my retreat. ] think at
times, that could more easily die by
painless method for my country than
could be the instrument through which
another should be compelled to die for
his. On the question of peace or war at
the present time, between this country
and Germany there is war in my men,
wa '" - AAh Is oS olilol lue law OI U1Y nina,
Intellectually and morally bid defiance
to Germany, but in the presence of the
actual realities of war l take to the
woods. And wonder whether at times
these two attitudes do not account for
the vacilation of muItitudes of our loyal
citizens. do earnestly hope that the
day is not far distant when "the nations
shall learn war no more"
AS close this rambling letter, just a
line to say that yesterday Kansas was
favored with good rain and last night
we were favored with refreshing down.
pour.
With best wishes to all our old-time
friends. Very truly,
w. H. W.
Springfield. Mo-, March IL, 1917.