The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-28
MOBILIZATION.
COnscriptiOn Better Than Volunteer
Recruiting System, as Plan to Raise
Army.
Editor Sumter Daily Item:

Editor Sumter Daily Item:
We are in state of war. But it is
a literal fact that we can not suddenly
leave our peaceful pursuits to march
away to fight Germany. We have no
wild fury or hymn Of hate to lead us
on, nor incite us. We are not invaded
we cannot cry, 1.-The Huns are at our
DOORS" In fact we have no griev-
ance so strong as to raise our country
with one accord and show united.
front. We must organize and be re-
constructed before we can fight.
We of this generation with the
stories fresh in our ears of how our
sires seized their muskets ard rushed
away to defend their homes in 81. find
our present condition very un-warlike.
There is less Of the smoking battle
fold and more of politics now There
Is no sound Of the drum or bugle
This is prosaic war A war Of bread
and ships, war of supplies. Was
there ever a war with so little enthus.
iasm for the American people? Was
there ever a war more political, war
with issues of politics; and the goal
of victory a political settlement.
For what in the final analysis is the
United States to gain for herself IN
this conflict? 1t is an attempt of Prcs-
ident Wilson to apply the principal Of
democracy as a self-evident necessity
to the nations of the earth. Presi-
dent Monroe formulated principal
of democracy for this continent in
what is known as the Monroe doctrine
President Wilson is endeavoring to
make broader application of the
same principal and apply it to the en-
tire world. This is the issue and the
nearest that there cui,es to q material
issue for the people of these United
States.
We must 60 through a metamor-
phis. a change from our paths and
construct an army exactly as we
would a large machine Of any kind.
If We do not 60 about it in an orderly
manner we defeat our own ends and
are handicapped at the outset. De-
liver us of a feigned enthusiasm, with
roaring recruiters trying to wheedle
and caiple by fair means and foul. all
of the male population Of the country.
Save US from the canting talk Of
"slackcfs'' and towards" and such
cpprobrium. The men of the country
stand ready to do their part when put
to work In earnest. II we must fighi
to preserve our national honor and
further political ends. let US start nj
the ground and build foundation
whereOn. we may raise n superstruc-
ture of IAN army In n cold business
like way. The war for us has no,
fOisted on us any wild patriotic feve,
30 lar. IL cannot. Inc greatest VIC
tories can be won by the largest mum.
her of guns and reserves of muni-
tions, the final conquests will be in the
council chambers of the peace dele.
gates. We must furnish the over
whelming number of loaves of bread
pounds of beef. and tons of shell. even
If the morale of our people have to
suffer. We can do this. but only by
looking at the facts coldly, and equal
ly coldly producing the necessary ma
terial. We must not go about it hys.
terically, branding all those who do
not go wild with patriotism or junker-
ism. as dcgenerates and towards, but
rather consolidate our business, our
industry and our resources to conserve
one final end. Better it would be tc
have six months of organization by
conscriptive mobilization than a year
of shouting, falsifying myopic re-
cruiting campaign. In the choice of
two evils choose the lesser. ME-.
FIRE GLASS BULLETS,