The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-04-19

QynaMitlng ana destruction OF Amer /
lean property and life.
Now is the time for you orderly, .
law-abiding subjects of the two kais- !
ers to organize to assist in preventing /
this senseless program and the dead |
ly consequences which are sure to /
follow its Inauguration.
There are no bounds to the fierce
passions of war mob. Its cruel
wrath is sure to fall upon the inno-
cent in far greater ratio than the
guilty.
The injury which these enemies of
our country within our borders could
do to our industries or in the destruc-
tion of American lives would not have
the slightest effect on the result of
the war.
1t is of Importance that such peo-
pie who are preparing to violate the
law and to commit violence against
our flag and our government should
know that they will not be treated as
soldiers or prisoners Of war but as
assassins and that. they will be
promptly hanged.
1t is true that our government will
not take prominent Germans as host
ages, stand them against wall and
shoot them when any Of their mis-
guided countrymen are guilty of
violence, as the German government
has done in Belgium. 1t Is also true
that our civil authorities throughout
the country have ignored this danger
and made virtually no preparation to
meet it and we may suffer to some ex-
tent as a consequence. But the day
of reckoning will quickly come for
such enemies as violate the asylum
we have given them and which we
will offer them during the war. Will
you not do your share to prevent this
utterly needless sacrifice of life and
property that would follow such q
program?
Give heed to this suggestion that
your comfort, your liberty and your
property may not be endangered dur
ing the war, and so that when 1t Is
all over you will again pursue hap
piness with us in the old friendly,
peaceful and prosperous way.
Our people are easy going, long
suffering and slow to anger. But 1t
is a mistake to under-rate our will
and our capacity for self-defense and
to give punishment.
For many long months the Ger
man government has continued to
destroy our property, murder our cit
izens and dishonor our flag on the
free seas. 1t has officially initiated
and officially admitted plots to set
our neighbors at war against us. In
cendiary and murderous enterprises
against us have been designed and
carried OUT within our borders BY
order of German officials.
Patiently have we endured these
crimes and indignities. Meekly have
we humbled and humiliated ourselves
Ibefore your government and the
tworld to avoid the calamity OF war.
In return we have received neither
fapology nor reparation. but renewed
1violation of our rights and contemp-
ituous defiance of our power to main
4tain them.
4 The wrath of our outraged people
lis gaining force and can no longer be
stayed.
= We know that we are not properly
prepared for war. We know that our
government has dallied and trihed
4 along for over two years while being
Il urged to prepare to resist force with
force.
We know these things, but do not
let your compatriots who expect to at
tack us secretly and while sharing
our hospitality think for moment
that the power of this mighty nation
will not be ultimately used to subdue
its enemies large and small.
The German kaiser refused to give
the word which would have saved the
great war and he has refused to give
the word which would prevent war
with America. Thus he undertakes
to extend and enlarge his power to
cause human misery. He has scourged
humanity as no other human being
has ever done. He has brought the
great Germanic nations to their knees
crushed with grief and heartache Tor
the multitude of their brave men for
whose sacrificed lives he Is RESPONSE
BILE. He has brought more pain, SUI
fering and death, more pitiless woe
to mankind than all the tyrants OF
history.
Against this heartless prince and
the brutalizing militarist despotism
for which he stands the whole civil
lied world has revolted.
: "Der Tag" is dawning. The day OF
reckoning and retribution Is close al
hand. The day when 1t shall be de-
g termined that democracy is not 70
? perish from the earth is almost here
Our nation will soon have the non
,,r Of Joining in the mighty battle be-
or tween Christian civilization and Kui-
ID tured barbarism.
We recognize and concede your
noint of view. We want you to sunel
y !, az little inconvenience and annoyance
y as possible during the war, but re-
= member that this is our country ane
. that here American sentiment, Amer
~ ican law and American authorit!
! ! must and will prevail.-By John han
= cock. Jr., in The New York sun.
in -
III nho Eadorafed Church,