The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1917-12-01
WAR TALKS
Dy UNCLE DAN
Jimmie and . German 0ey ciasls-
0sst % Thrss Things . cave
covNtSy.

Country.
II was q warm evening, 20 Uncye
Dan went out to Q lawn seat under TIE
spreading branches Of the great tree
that suggested the farms name of Oak
Hin. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
ing for him, % Uncle Dan was cap
tured By the boys on short order.
SAY. Uncle Dan" Billie began. We
had Q red-hot argument at school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
that German schools were miles ahead
Of our schools and that no one could
come up 70 the educated German. Well.
Jimmie got hot under the collar and
handed It back to him good and plenty.
Jimmie said II their education taught
them to torpedo LuEtanias, sink hos
pital ships. murder hundreds Of wom-
en- and children. make slaves of
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all sorts Of crimes.
then We did not want that kind Of
education here. What do you think
about II, Uncle Dani I told Jimmie
you spent q lot Of time In Europe and
knew al about schools. % give N your
opinion"
WELL" replied Uncle Dan, dellbef-
ately. the German schools are very
thorough; they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
industrial training given there II prob
ably the best to be found. The schools
a Q whole. however. In my opinion.
appeal to the head only. and never 70
the heart. The aim and trend IL to
make the individual blindly submits
sive to the Prussian plan Of world do
minion; they teach that It II the des-
tiny Of Germany to rule the world. and
that to the glory and advance Of Ger.
many. In this plan, all things must give
way; that the kaiser a. head Of the
state, can do no wrong II he carries
forward the plan Of world control.
Some Of the greatest teachers and
preachers even defend and justify her
heartless crushing Of Belgians and the
many other atrocious crimes she has
committed In this war. Thank God.
our American education reaches both
the head and tho heart. II IL an edu-
cation with Q soul, and We must main
tain the high ideals We have fixed. In
Q word, In Germany. the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
ment while here the government ex-
lists to serve the people"
"Just wait Q minute" interrupted
Billie. Say that over again slowly. -
I can write Il down"
Uncle Dan, smilingiy. compiled.
Billie exclaimed: "Now, We will hand
that nut out for Carl to crack.
Carl, you know" continued Billie.
has q very smart father who keeps |
him posted on the German arguments. |
Carl said our government was only |
m experiment anyway; that 1t would
not last twenty years, and that II
might burst up any old time. Jimmie
asked him II Germany was 30 mighty
good, why they nd not 90 back there
10 live"
~Our government viii 20 on forever,
won't It. Uncle Danr
"Now," said Uncle Dan, you are
raising . big question. and one that
has troubled me for years. Our gov
u sun In the experimental
ytage; In fact. Il Is the greatest ex-
pertinent ever undertaken, and II pop
liar government 10 to be successful, Q
,ew things must be done. otherwise. to
the great Lincoln. the gov
Of the people. By the people
Ind for the people. will perish. It 10
ny arm conviction" said Uncle Dan.
q . very impressive manner, that II
'ur country II to 30 on, a. we hope
md pray. We must very quickly do
L least three things, and I win name
hem In the order Of importance a. II
lppears to me:
First, adopt compulsory universal
military training Of all young men
physically At before they reach the
ge Of twenty years
Next. require that every foreigner
mo comes here to live must, within Q
time, say q year, declare
10 intention Of becoming an Americas
itsen and take the necessary steps %
% %, thereby, from that moment, -
uming all the obligations Of citizen.
hip Of our country. and that means he
rust defend our nag upon equal terms |:
nth our native born, and II he Is not
Killing to do this, he should be ssnt
ack from whence he came"
THAT'S the stuf," exclaimed Billia
"And, finally, enact such legislatiou =
, will make voting compulsory. Pop
lar government II based upon TIA e