The Republican journal., 1917-11-01

VI ltS gOSpel OF freedom and democracy
mat is the message-Man as Man, that
Is ripping in every fibre and waving in
every thread of our country's flag When
Henry George spoke those words he
planted himself squarely on the Ameri-
can Idea, the spirit of the Declaration of
independence, and the Constitution
breathes and throbs in those three words
Man as Man. This is our distinctive
glory among the nations of the earth:
this is the gospel of freedom and democ-
racy which prophets of old vainly desired
to see.
And this idea and this truth YOU citi-
zens OF Belfast have beautifully and elo-
Quently exemplified in your parade
through the streets of this fair and hon.
ored city today,-for in that procession.
bearing our codntry's colors was a Young
man of the colored race-my friend
"Wee" johnson, who marched as proudly
as any other citizen, and that fact and
act is typical of what this democracy is
that we are fighting to preserve and make
safe for all the world.
do not ask any citizen of Belfast to
do anything that l would not do myself.
and when | ask you to purchase Liberty
Bonds, | am going to be a bit personal
and tell you, that with the first Liberty
Loan | wanted my children, five of them,
to know that their father tried to do
little something in this year of American
crisis and SO he bought each of them
Liberty bond, and in the words of scrip
ture, go thou and do likewise" Help
your government, inspire your young
soldiers, fortify the administration, shit
the Kaiser" by buying now a Liberty
Bond. When that young manhood of
ho
phrase is, on the frontiers of Europe,
believe that carnage will change its
character and become kind of courage
GUS chlvalry. Today we read in our jour-
nails and it is uttered by many lips that
scenes such as those witnessed on the
battletronts OF Europe may sometime be
enacted on our own soil. OF this | do
not know and cannot pretend to judge,
and everyone who loves his country and
abhorS all war cannot think of it with
out fervent prayer that it may never
be, but if it ever comes, if the invading
foot of foreign foe is ever planted on
our sacred soil, and the ring of rifles and
the roar of cannon is ever heard on these
shores, that invader will surely learn that
American courage and heroism did not
die at Lexington or Gettysburg, or
breathe its last at Saratoga or Santiago,
at Bunker Hill or Appomattox. 1t will
again be demonstrated that the Red
Badge of Courage can be painted IN blood
upon American breasts in defense of our
homes and our loved ones. And to pre-
vent just such tragedy you are asked
by your country to buy to the limit of
your ability these Liberty Bonds.
Prof. johnson, who is to speak this
evening, will tell you some of the atroci-
ties and indgnities heaped upon defense
less homes and helpless women and chill
dren In France, in Armenia, in Belgium
and Poland. Oh, it's catalogue to bring
the blush of shame to every cheek and to
make the blood stir and boil in every ar
terry and vein, and these. "wrongs unre-
dressed and insults unavenged' are cry
ing to heaven and to American manhood
and womanhood for help and pity and
compassion. And if America doesn't
help now with money and men, then
Judgment thou art fled to british beasts
and men have lost their reason
Look upon this picture {here Mr. Smith
held before the audience a large photo
| graph of the closed hand of Abraham
Lincoln) it is not the mailed fist of a
ruthless tyrant, but the hand of the gen.
tlest, noblest man ever given to nation
in its trying hours of crisis-Abraham
! Lincoln. When you sign your applica-
ton for a Liberty Bond may you feel that
this noble hand is guiding yours, and his
gentle spirit lowering as an hallowed
presence about you, and may his memoir
able and incompatible words ring in your
heart: '1t is-for US here to be dedicat-
ed to the great task remaining before,
us, that government of the people, by the
people, for the people, shall not perish
from the earth.
May the appeal of Lowell in his "Pres-
ent Crisis" be heard by every one here
present:
/ 'Once to every man and nation comes
the moment to decide
In the strife of Truth with falsehood, for
the good or evil side.
New occasions teach new duties, time
makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still and onward, who
I would keep abreast of Truth"
Heed then the call of your country,
enjoy not its privileges without accepting
in some measure it's responsibilities, and
obeying its invitation to subscribe to it's
bonds, so help to safeguard your home,
to wipe away the tears of nations, to
comfort sorrow and ease the pain of
wounds, and perpetuate and preserve the
pA'tSiSoo hSllIoSC VI l1OSlIy anu uCllIoI-
racy for the world of humankind. end
as began:
Strike, let every nerve and sinew
Tell for Justice, tell for Godp'
Yes! citizens of Belfast and loyal
friends of former years, do your part in
this hour of crisis, this time of turmoil
and tumult, of stress and strain and
struggle
Men of thought and men of action
Lead the way.
Prof. John sons Message.
Directly after the enthusiastic audience,
led by Mrs. C. W. Wescott with Miss
Amy E. Stoddard al the piano, had sung
America as only Americans can sing it,
! Prof johnson, a typical American was
introduced. He said he was never more
proud of the fact that he was an Ameri-
can than when he came in sight of the
Statue of Liberty in New York harbor,
but he believed that pride was growing
stronger as he saw how loyalty his coun-
try was coming to the assistance of the
Allied nations in their struggle with the
most cruel and despotic nation the world
hoe IA 1orGoJ 7