South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-24

ia reace which he possesseth.
Aly Dear Brethren;
Take up in fancy the map Of the
United States. sweep your eye over
that spacious empire stretching
from Portland. Maine. 90 Portland.
oregon. and fvom the Great lakes
"a ths GC!f Of Mexico. T. is larger
that the world wide empire Of
aesar: 10 IS rich beyond even the
dreams Of ayarice. Upon that im-
perial domain great mountain
ranges cleave the clouds; within
their heaving. turgid bosOms lies
concealed more wealth than exists
perhaps i'm all the world beside. The
BODY or that empire j. veined and
afteried with great natural water
courses through which surges ana
beats the national life. Great cities
sit secure upon her hilltOps or nestle
in her large and comfortable val
ieys and upon her broad prairies
and among her rolling hills I've null
titudes OF happy prosperous people.
Her citizenship is the most honOred
In he world. ner power is felt
turing and commerce she is peer
less and apart. i'm the gentler graces
OF life she has. though young, had
honorable part Her passion for
education is a sublime example.
Nowhere else are truth and honor
held in greater veneraticn; nowhere
else in all the world do the fires OF
patriotism burn so brightly on the
altar OF liberty Her history is be-
spangled with exploits of vaior IN
war and deeds Of devotion in peace.
She has made practical the dream
II universal manhood suffrage; she
has written In letters OF light the
story Of her industrial genius. Like
the eagle poised in incomm un.caole
sunshine. she has place apart
through her commercial prosperity
She is the haven for the oppressed
Of every land she Is the one nope
Of uncOunted milliors lying still UNI
born i'm the womb OF time. Nowhere
else i'm all the world is the dignity
Of human life so recognized ana
honored: nowhere else in all the
world is liberty poured out so
abundautly upon the lives OF men.
she is the supreme republic Of the
world and her children cherish her
with love that is almost idolatry
The student OF history might well
write upon his tablets that the peo-
pie OK America are indeed "the heirs
OF all the ages i'm the foremost
flies OF time
BIoOdhOunds let Loose.
surely this is a picture Of strong
nation. but one day over the whole
people passed a shudder of a great
Gear that America might meet a
mighty reverse. The nations of Eu-
rope like bIoodhounds impassioned
Of gore flew at each others threats
civilization went mad. and America
with the best good Will in the world
could not remain out OF the wal
For more than half a century our
people had walked IN the pleasant
maths OF peace While other nations
with frantic energy. we're preparing
for the coming conflict by training
study and discipline we had grown
fat with prosperity, and habby with
indulgence \ cry of alarm was
raised by the leaders of the land
and instantly. as soon as the dan
ser OF the situation was universally
realized America became one vas
mobilization camp. The flower oI
our young manhood was summon
ed into training camps 20 become
officers. the vigor and hardlhooC
and courage of America was draft
eel into a mammoth army. there
was an enormous expenditure O
money for ships, for guns, ana loi
army equipment Munition planu
were worked T. the very limits o
their power. and innumeraole rae
tories were converted into instru
ments for the supply of guns an'
ammunition. Patriotic societies were
multiplied and strengthened; pul
pits resouuded with impass.one'
oratory: freedom of speech amons
the thoughtleSs and disatfected wa
restricted. the government used 10
extraordinary powers TO contro
prices commissions were formed
FOR the conservation of food; news
paDer~ Systematically made pro
pazanda for the cause, the railroad
the telephone. and the telegraph
over the country were pre-empte'
for government use; with amazini
for.ltude fathers. mothers, and sis
tiers willingly gave mp their love-
sons and brothers 20 danger an'
death IL was an inspiring an,
heroic spectacle. that Of a stroni
nation arming itself thus that tn
things might be i'm peace which
possessed
Nations and individuals.
There is a natural parellei he
tween the experiences OF nation
and individuals Both have thei
birth. their childhood their youth
their maturity. and their declin
Roth have their vices and their vir
tues their triumphs and their hu
mutations. their hours Of homes
pride. and their moments of foil
and shame Both have 90 max
preparation for an impending crisis
and among wise individuals a
among wise nations the preparatlo
IS not sudden and spasmodic hu
distributed over long time. avoidin
the defects OF hasty and tumultu
Gus action. securing the depth an
d.