Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1917-11-01


1t was a warm evening so Uncle
Dan went out to lawn seat under the
spreading branches of the great tree
that suggested the farms name Of Oak
Hill. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
Ing for him, SO Uncle Dan was cap
tured by the boys on short order.
"Say, Uncle Dan" Billie began. eve
had rcd-hot argument ut school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
4 that German schools were miles ahead
Of our schools and that no one could
come up to the educated German. Well,
Jimmie got hot under the collar and
handed it back to him good ana plenty.
Jimmie said if their education taught
them to torpedo LusitaniaS. sink hos
, ptal 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 wan& that kind Of
education here. What do you think
about If. Uncle Dan? l told Jimmie
you spent lot of time In Europe and
knew all about schools, so give us your
opinion"
"Well," replied Uncle Dan, dcIiber-
ately, "the German schools are very
thorough; they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
industrial training given there Is prob-
ably the best to be found. The schools
rs a whole, however, in my opinion.
appeal to the head only, and never to
the heart. The aim and trend is to
make the individual biindly subnlis-
sive to the Prussian plan Of world do
niiaion they tcarA that lt n tlle des-
tiny of Germany 70 rule fIle world. and
that to the glory md advances of Ger
many. in this plan, all things must give
way; that the kaiser as 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
hcartlcss crushing OF BelgiGns and the
many other atrociOus crimes she has
committed in this war. Thank God,
our American education reaches both
the head ana the heart. 1t is an edu-
cation with soul, and we must main
tain the high ideals we have fixed. In
Il word, in Germany, the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
m2nt, while here the government eS-
lists to serve the people"
"Just wait a minute" interrupted
Billie. Say that over again slowly, so
car write il down"
Uncle Dan, emllngly, complied.
Billie exclaimed: "Now, we will hand
that nut out for Carl TO crack.
Carl. YOU know" continued Billie,
has very smart father who keeps
ljm posted on the German arguments.
Narl said our government was only
IN experiment anyway; that 1t would
not last twenty years, and that it
night burst up any Old time. Jimmie
lskcd him if Germany was 50 mighty
rood, why they did not 90 back there
o live"
sour government will go on forever.
Won't It, Unclo DAMP
"Now," said Uncle Dan. you are
alsng n big question, and one that
aS troubled mc for years. Our gov
rrmcnt is still IN the experimental
tagc; in feet, ii Is the greatest ok
Illt'ilL " ~ ual'i'l a. anu II I'P-
lar government IS to be successful a
nw things must he done otherwise, to
araphrase the great Lincoln the gov
rnment Of the people by the people
nd for the people viii perish. IT Is
" firm convictions" said Uncle Dan,
q very impressive manner, that If
ur country iS to go on, rs we nope
nd pray, we must very quickly do
/ least three things and I viii name
lem in the or-er of importance MS it
opears to me:
"Flrst, adopt compulsory universal
iitary training OF all young men
lysically fit before they reach the
90 of twenty years.
"NCXt, require that every foreigner
ho comes here 80 live must, within
asonable time, say year, declare
s intention OF becoming an American
Ii2cn and take the necessary steps 20
50, thereby, from that moment, as
ming all the obligations Of citizan-
lp Of our country, and that mems Il"
lst defend oar flg upon equal terms
III our native born, G"1 n ln Is net
Hing to do this, he shlull be sent
elk from whence he eamr,'
'Tlars tha eHG," cvC..Iol R.lip