Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-01

1lOMWA SEMI EEhIl
alize their duty as Americans-citi-
zens of country which is at war
( Just now, every American citizen
either is patriotic, or he is not patri-
otto. There is no middle ground:
!. there can be none. There is no such
thing as passive patriotism now. The
nation is face to face with the greatest
crisis in its history. 1t has declared
! it's objects and its reasons for enter
| ing the war and they are objects and
reasons to which every patriotic
American can and does subscribe.
| Failure to do so signifies nothing less
than lack of patriotism.
Germany violated all the laws OF hui
mainly and civilization, written and
unwritten, before America entered the
war. Germany invaded the United
States with an extensive spy system,
refused to recognize the rights of
! American commerce, rode rough shod
over the rights OF .neutrals and threat
ened the permanency Of democratic in
situations and national freedom.
All these things were done before
America entered the war. 1t was only
when this countrys patience was ex-
hausted. when dfenified protest and
appeal to humane instincts failed, that
congress voted to recognize the state
of war. It was only when it was evil
| dent beyond question that the United
1 States must seize this time to destroy
the Prussian militaristic autocracy
or wait until that force, having domi-
mated the entente nations, should
surge pell nell across the seas to COM
plete its career of destruction on our
own shores.
| In view of these facts. there is but
one course open now for America and
/. Americans this means all Ameri-
| cans. There is but one thing to do:
| Fight
Those who refuse to recognize this
condition are in need of patriotic in
struction. Nothing could illustrate
more forcibly their lack of sense of
responsibility than the statement is
sued Sunday night in Chica;,o by Rev.
Irwin st. John Tucker. who acted as
chairman OF the Auditorium meeting
His disavowal follows:
The Chicago permanent confer
ence on terms of peace is respon-
sible only for the mass meeting
held in the Auditorium theater
and for the resolutions officially
presented therein.
On hearing that an impromptu
mass meeting was being organized
in Grant park. we sent. on the ad-
vice of Attorney Seymour Sted-
man. message to them request
ing them to disband, as mass
meetings in public parks without
permit are contrary to law. The
conference is determined, while
exercising all our rights under the
law. strictly to observe all our
obligations under the same.
AS well might Fagin disavow re-
sponsibility should one of his pupils in
thieyery commit murder when cor
nered at stealing This carelessness
of responsibility as to results which
marks so many bodies Of radicals is
akin to that carelessness which has
thrown Russia into worse than use
less condition Of chaos following the
! success of the revolution. A doctrine
of destruction was preached without
thought OF the responsibility for re-
construction should that doctrine pre-
vail.
It is but step from the Auditorium
to Grant park and no farther from the
doctrine OF distrust and discomfort
that was preached in the Auditorium
to the violence and anarchy that was
witnessed in Grant park. The differ
ence is only difference between mis-
directed intellect and misguided ignor-
ance.
The Auditorium meeting adopted
resolutions demanding statement OF
the governments peace terms. They
had been answered in advance on the
night of April 2. when President Will
son read his message to congress from
which these sentences are taken:
We are now about to accept
the gauge OF battle to
fight for the ultimate peace of the
+, world and for the liberation of it's
peoples, the German people in
cuded: for the rights of nations
great and small and the privilege
Of men everyw here to choose their
way Of life and obedience. The
world must be made safe for
democracy. It's peace must be
| planted upon the trusted founda-
lions of political liberty.
We have no unselfsh ends to
+ serve We desire no conquest, no
| dominion. We seek no indemni-
ties for ourselves. no material
conversation for the sacrifices
we shall freely make. We are but
one of the champions Of the rights
| of mankind. We shall be salts
fed when those rights have been
as secure as the faith and the
freedom OF the nations can make
| them.
True to that distinguishing lack of
responsibility for their actions which
mar them at this time as dangerous
ne nation, these interrogators OF
ie government talk now of peace
when they should be seeking means
| by which the war can be won, so this
country may be in a position to dictate
peace terms.