Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-17

like that phrase, ITO make the world
safe for democracy. That Is going to
ring down the ages 1t is one of the
greatest phrases that was ever enun-
ciated, by human beings. but we did
not go in this war to make the world
safe for democracy. 1t has begun now
to make it safe for democracy. We
went into it because of American
rights and American honor and Amer
lean sovereignty. We were up to the
point of fighting Germany across the
sea with the help of the allies, or
fighting Germany here at home. 1t
was an American interest. American
citizenship and American sovereign
ty means something in this world.
They ought to. You remember, those
of you who read your Bibles pretty
regularly, of the incident of Paul when
he was bound, and he said to the
Centurian, as it. lawful to scourge a
man who is a Roman and uncondemn-
ed?" And the Centurian went to the
captain of the host and said take heed
what thou doest; this man Is a Roman
citizen" and so when our citizens are
upon the sea where they have a right
to be under the old Stars and Stripes
when any nation tries to do injury
that nation that that flag represents
power, that that flag will take care
of it's citizenship; want them to hear
the voice of power saying: Take heed
what thou doest to this man for he is
an American citizen" That is what
we went into this war for. Now, it
has grown; now this conflagration is
sweeping the world and the question
of democracy and autocracy is invol-
we'd. There is a great fundamental.
You can't have America now safe for
Americans; that is the great issue
without in way having the world safe
for democracy.
Why, this German philosophy has
grown up under the kaiser, those
poor German people have followed it.,
Bonded their backs under it, left for
other countries to get away from 1t,
that he is divinely ordained OF God.
While his crown was not put there
by the vote Of the people, and while
he rejoices in that, there isn't much
question before this war is over that
the people of his country. aroused by
the infamy he has brought upon them,
are going to see that that crown of his
is rolled in the dust, and there will
be no more of the house of Hohenzol-
lern That is one of our terms OF
peace. The president has stated it so
well We are willing to deal with the
German people to bring about peace,
but you can't deal with this, ruling
power of Germany. That has brought
US into this contest.
Now, whether in this world we are
going to have governments of kings
and emperors or whether we are going
to have governments of the people
under laws made by them, that is
the great fundamental of this contest.
That goes down very deep with it's
roots into human life and human des-
tiny. What chance for development
of this world, if we are to be ruled
by kings and emperors? Do we want
to risk any such thing in this coun-
try of ours That is the contest. In
such contest what could this great
republic do? Dedicate it to democracy.
People willing to give their lives and
their money in order that government
of the people, for the people and by
the people might continue to exist?
That is the contest now. We have got
to get that into our souls. Oh, we
want peace! Yes, wish peace could
come tonight and end this bloody
struggle, but what is patched-up
peace worth? If we have to start all
over again and go through this thing,
what does it amount to? Would it
not be better to talk about peace when
the kaiser takes his bloody hands off
of Germany and France? We want
a peace that Is a peace, with safety,
peace that will mean the disarma-
ment of the great military powers of
the world, and not compel the people
to bend their backs to, support this
militarism, We want a peace that
shall make it impossible. for such a
war as this ever to occur again. That
is the kind of a peace we are going
to get before we are through this
contest.
Now, my friends, If it is worthwhile
to make this country of ours worth
living in, to save this country of ours
and we are in perilous times, we have
20 to make some sacrifices. Oh, we
have got to get away from the five and
ten-cent business; that may do in
church collections when nobody is
looking, to throw in five cents, but
have got to get away from any five
cent business in this. We have got to
get down to sacrifice to win this con-
test. Oh, you don't believe it. I can
see it in some your faces. You don't
believe it. I wish I could convince
you of it in some way. You do not
like a good many people like send
ing our boys to France. 1t is pretty
hard, but these wages of militarism,
this Prussian militarism, is menace
to this nation of ours, and If you sit
down and study the history of Prus-
STA you will know it. Now, If fire
is sweeping over Manchester and gets
up within few blocks of your home,
and you know it is coming; what do
you do? Do you sit down ut home and
get out the sprinkler and 60 to sprink-
ling the lawn or the shingles? No!
You go down town and help the boys
put out the fire, If you have any good
horse sense. This fire Is coming and
1t is going to sweep across the sea.
Would people rather stay here and
put out the fire? That is a matter for
argument. The president and his ad-
visors decided the best course is to 60
down and put out the fire before it
gets here, and that is why we are
sending the boys to France. Are we
willing to make the sacrifices? Has
this old nation of ours been so blest
with prosperity and ease; do we enjoy
GUS ease so much and have we got so
fat and thrifty that We are not willing
tn give I'M ANYTHING at all that we