Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-17
a Loyal Press; a Loyal People.

As illustrative OF the patriotic spirit of the
Georgia press and the Georgia people We present
elsewhere on this.page editorial excerpts from pa
pers published in widely distant parts of the State
and in Enthusiastically Southern communities of
few thousand population. The latter fact is note
worthy because it is in such communities, merging
they do the life of farmstead and town, that the
broad. deep currents OF our common thought and
feeling find freest expression.
We cannot say" writes the editor of the Tiff
ton Gazette Of whose recently enlisted for
army service in the aviation corps I'VE cannot say
that We cheerfully him CO. but We would not,
by word or deed. stand between him and his duty"
The author Of those touchngly simple and eloquent
words has sons, not one of whom his heart
could give up. Yet" he adds, while we have
boys TO spare. stand ready to surrender any
all. even life. when duty calls their country
needs" Such is the spirit OF the Wiregrass;
and high up in the iron hills of Whitfield the Dali
ton Citizen makes answer: There speaks a
patriot and true American! How refreshing it
is to read such words of devotion and loyalty to
country in place of the sneering drivel emitted
by the anti-draft advocates, pro-Germans and pro-
fessonaI pacists,"
. Commenting on those misguided persons who
raising money to contest the constitutionality
of the Selective Service law the Winder News SEN
sibly remarks that for its part it is enough
to know that Congress passed the act, the Presi-
dent signed it and that it is now "a law of Amer
leans and for Americans" In similar vein, the
Swainsboro Forrest-Blade exhorts the youth OF
Georgia who selected for service with the
coloEs not to seek exemption paltry pretext3
but to act the part of men. For:
There your duty lies Your fellows will
think more of you. You will have more
respect for yourself Your own people, as
much as they will grieve over the loss of
personal contact with you, will feel better
about It. IL they know you did your duty as a
fuIl-blooded American citizen ought to do it,
Much history is being written in Georgia to-
day, and written indelibly There are persons,
though fortunately few, who think they can assail
the Government and shiTk their duty in this hour
OF national peril. and then go respected among
their fellows in the years to come. But they
will learn to their sorrow that disloyalty in war
is one disgrace that never dies Throughout this
Commonwealth, in every city and village and
farmside. for men of every rank and station, the
Public Conscience. that most inexorable of record
ing angels. is keeping score. For the fathless, 1t
were better that they take their leave for the
Kaiser's serfdom forthwith. But for those who
live up TO their duty. whether it leads to the
laundering battle front lies along workaday
paths. how splendid will be historys reckoning!
For as the Walton Tribune declares. When the
record of achievements is written, the names OF
these sons will shine forth with all the courage
and heroism of their valorous forbears."
The papers from whom we have quoted are
typical in sentiment of their loyal contempora-
ries throughout the State. They speak for the
true-hearted rank and file They show that Geor-
gia Is not Prussian province, as some deluded
demagogues seem to imagine, but a Commonwealth
of Americans who prize freedom and honor and
stand ready to give their all for their country