Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-16
Wake Up Americans--Means You
must wake up.

Americans must wake up.
This is the message that comes to Honolulu from
fellow citizens who have had opportunity to gel
taste of the enthusiasm and patriotism OF the east
ern states 1t is also the message brought I" 'ne
people Of the Atlantic seaboard by fellow c''zens
returning from the war zone.
All along the line there develops the feeling tEal
the average citizen does not fully r1alize what a
serious part he has to play and how vital to his
personal right t-home interests is the prompt and
aggressive mobilization Of all the man, money,
munitions and manufacturers power OF the country
1t is timely on every occasion to recall the solemn
admontion Of Secretary Root on his return from
the Russian mission. When he talked Of the trou-
bles of Russia it was of matter long way OF.
Then he brought it all right home to the people OF
America when he said
Don't argue about why we are in the war, put
realize that the time has come when American
liberty American justice, American independence
and freedom is the stake for which we must fight
There was no difference of opinion among the
members of that commission, whose members saw
first hand the struggle of the new Russian republic
and could realize through personal contact what
the success Of Prussia must mean
Charles Edward Russell, who woul' be one of the
first to cry out against useless sacrifice OF me In
any war of aggression capitalistic greed, sad OF
the task of America:
"If man now says MY wages before my coun
try or MY balance sheet before my country, or
my class or creed before my country, he Is not an
American. America is in peril; the nag we love IL
in danger. No question is worthy Of consideration
until we settle the question Of whether democracy
shall live. Democracy hangs BY thread. It's ex'
istence depends on the union and the utmost deter
mination of the United States Of America"
Again, James Duncan, vicepresident of the
American Federation Of Labor, voices the warning:
aThis s no time to squabble over incidentals. The
workingmen Of America are back Of the president
and the government. The fight now 10 between auto
cracy and democracy" r
These are not the remarks Of men carried of their
feet by passing enthusiasm. They come from the
lips of men who have seen the fight at the very heart
of things. They are deeply moved and their first
thought is for their nation. They know that their
fellow countrymen are fighters at heart, but they
fear that the seriousness Of situation it should
come home to- all the nation is not realized.
In the immediate business Of war, the marshal
ing Of the men and the money the response has been
wonderful. But this line OF men at the front must
have support from the forces at home that 10 just
as alert just as intensive, just az ecient 40 that
which marks the daily life Of those IN positions Of
danger who may pay for misstep with their own
lives. Sc -
Still another warning comes from q coFrespon.
dent Of the Denver Post Just returned from Europe
He finds New York and the eastern centers much
the same az before except for the soldiers and he ID
led to remark that aneither the laws, nor q big
army, nor the greatest navy can obt-in the sought
for result quickly and surely without the whole
hearted support and sympathy of ever citizen.
aon the eve 4 the great supreme tacrifce, Amer
leans should do as the French have done-restrict
expenses, reduce the supernuous This digniHed at
titude viii go for to hasten the end of the war It
will impress Germany far more than any Official
measures and the day when the Germans feel sure
that the whole Of the American nation has reason.
ed as one man--that day will see the dawn Of
peace" S
Americans must wake up. And that means you.