The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-30
THE YOUNG MAN.

Christian Science Monitor: The paci-
fist whole-heartedly, the socialist spas
medically have done their best 10 hin
der the prosecution Of the Allies war
plans. II they have achieved anything
they may account 1t this, that they have
given comfort TO the Central Powers,
delayed the inevitable triumph of the
Entente. and so prolonged the blood
shed and misery of the war In saying
slightest aspersion on the good faith or
purity Of motive Of either, II is only
intended to question their political acu.
men. The Socialists, Of course. II is
impossible TO class as a body. In Ger
many, as Herr Bebel always insisted.
they would, they have marched to the
beat Of the drum. In France they have
rallied to the flag at the call of Mon
sieur Herve and Monsieur Thomas. In
Italy the majority have obeyed the call
of Signor Boselh. In the United King
rom 1t is only a minority which. under
the leadership of Mr.. Macdonald and
Mr.. Snowden. have separated them
selves from the overwhelming majority
of their countrymen. In the United
States nothing has so far occurred def
initely TO demand any alignment.
Now that the great body OF the paci-
fists and the minority socialists really
believe that they are. by their attitude,
consulting the best interests Of humani-
ty there is no reason. as has been said,
to doubt But 1t would really be ex.
tremely interesting to know in what
way they imagine the liberties Of the
race would be subserved, or the future
peoce of the world assured by the tri-
umph Of the Middle Europe group. Per-
haps If they had experienced, in their
own persons, the gentle mercies OF the
Turk to the Armenian. the Bulgar 10
the Serb. the Austrian TO the Rumanian.
or the German TO the Belgian. they
might be less academic in their views
on the situation. Let US imagine. for
the moment, that the powers Of Europe
rushed into the war with the uncon-
trolled passions Of the cats Of Kilkenny.
Let us try to imagine that the great
overseas dominions are peopled with bel
licose aristocrats and plutocratic plural.
lists intent only on dominion and divi
dends Even then there remained still
the one just man. determined upon neu'
tralty. the United States OF America.
For two and a half years the just
man watched from across the Atlantic
the hurly.burly OF slaughter. from the
banks OF the Somme 10 Bagdad. and
from the Baltic 10 the forests Of Africa
Then one day the just man spoke he
explained just what he thought Of the
murder OF the Armenian nation. just
what he had observed Of the sinister
conspiracy planned By an autocracy
running amuck through the world foi
its own personal ends. and he an
nounced that in the name Of humanity
in the name OF civilization, in the name
Of right and justice. he too was coming
into the weter 20 insure liberty and
progress from being blotted OFF IN,
globe. And for this purpose he alsC
called out his young men.
When a nation goes 20 war IL Is right
that its army should be raised by means
OF the selective draft only there must
be no question OF the complete integrity
Of the drafters. To permit the burden
to fall on those families which ar,
prompt to answer the call Of duty
whilst those who hesitate or fail ar,
permitted to escape is both weak ant
understandable. A free country make;
rs own decisions. and there is a great
gulf fixed between what the world has
termed the human cannon fodder o.
men arbitrarily driven into the ranks
and the self.sacrifice made by a FIRE,
nation for righteousness sake. MeI
who enjoy the liberties OF a free coun
try. and yet decline TO make sacrifices
for that enjoyment. are unworthy OF IN,
privileges OF their citizenship. The pact
fist who can only see the blood OF war
and who holds all warfare up TO repro
baton, simply values human life highel
than principle, and condemns the con
duct of those forefathers who paid will
their blood for the freedom he enjoys
What would he have done. IL may quit
frankly be asked, in the hour Of tn,
Revolution? II his ideals are tru,
ideals. then Paul Revere was mer,
maker OF mischief. the minute mel
were agents provocateurs. Israel Put
nam was setting man against man a
Bunker Hin, and as for George Wash
ington instead of being the Father o
his Country, he must have been tn
chief villain OF the tragedy, There is. o
courses, absolutely no escape from tn
argument. II II is wrong to fight tc
day, It was wrong TO fight then. AM
' II It Is unjustihable for the Unite