The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1917-07-14
FOURTH OF JULY ADDRESS
(By Rev. Grover C. Flannery)

Soihih8 OIL HdHNlHu anu IL
federation Of the world
For the first time in history the rep
entatives of the free nations are
assembling to safeguard democracy
and to expel autocracy and miltarism
from the earth.
There are some things that can not
be stopped-the chariots Of the south
wind. the progress of independence,
liberty and self-government, now jour
Eeying like a beautiful civilization
over the earth
Autocracy is doomed The doctrine
Of the divine right of kings Is like an
iceberg caught in the gulf stream,
snawed by the warm waters beneath
and consumed by the sun from above.
There is no longer any room in the
world for czar, a kaiser or sultan.
There never lived a man who was wise
enough to be master and call another
man his slave There never lived a
car. kaiser or a sultan born with a
native right to. rule over his brother
man in the spirit of the despot. And,
unfortunately, we are engaged in th@
most titanic war recorded in hist ory,
and no man can forsee it's close nor
just what will be required of the
United States.
My own impression is that the war,
which has endured for three years, will
last at least that much longer, perhaps
great deal longer.
The civil war between the states of
this country lasted four years in spite
Of the great odds against the southern
ccnfederacy.
1oot tod
eight years and surely in that struggle
the forces were far more unequal than
the rival armies in the present war.
The NapOleOnic wars, with slight in
termissions, continued for more than
20 years and France was battling
against all the other European states
The war between England and the
Beers lasted for three yers. and all the
force of the mighty British Empire
was brought to bear against the small
Boer republic before it terminated.
The war of Frederick the Great of
Prussia, with several intermissi ions
lasted SO years.
The war of the Roses in England con-
t;nued for 80 years.
And so on through history. Wher-
ever there was any kind of equality
between warning nations the struggle
lasted for many years. In the present
struggle there Is no such great dis
arity as many seem to think.
The combined area Of Germany, Aus
tria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey is
1,022,00O square miles and their united
population is 142,0OO,0O0. Moreover,
the central powers, as their name in
dicates, are on the center of a ring or
circle from the interior of which they
can strike rapidA4 and effectively first
on one side and then on the other,
Germany's preparation for the war
is beyond question the most effective
ever devised. Her transportation sys-
tenn is perfect; her munitions of war
of every kind were created in colossal
Volume of the very best character; her
people had the spirit of patriotism so
thoroughly drilled into them that every
man. woman and child in the empire
knew how to do his or her part and
GO it we'll, and was more than willing
to do it.
The agricultural wealth of the CEN
trail powers, upwards of million
square miles in area. much of which
is as fertile as there is on the globe, is
very great and under normal condi-
tions these lands will produce enough
food and clothing to supply their own
people without any outside assistance.
Practically every mineral needed for
war purposes is also plentiful in this
vast area.
The central powers are fully equip
ped by nature and the marvellous re-
sourcefulness of their people enable
them to live at home independent OF
the rest of the world. That being true,
l see no reason why the war should not
continue for very long time I hope
tfis Is incorrect and pessimistic. but it
Is the one which I honestly hold and
in my judgment it is imperative for our
people to understand the true situation.
We are confronted with a most seri-
GUS problem that requires us to mar
sral every resource and energy of the
nation. We must not act half hearted
ly; we must not gag at trifies. We
must nght the devil with fire. and, as
Germany has used every resource OF
her people for the past forty years in
preparation for this war, and Is not
handling them with divided councils
and disunited effort but as one man
under the leadership Of Kaiser Will
helm, so II We expect victory we must
concentrate our forces and put forth
a thoroughly united effort under our
6, eat president, Woodrow Wilson. to
Whom We can look with faith. The
constitution makes him our leader in
peace and the general in chief of our
armies and navies He is the de facto
and de jure head of the republic with
its 100, 100000 souls, No president who
has occupied the White House from the
days of Washington to this moment has
ever willfully misused the powers OF
his great Office. Thank God we have
always been able to trust our presi-
dents. Immense powers were given
Lincoln during the civil war and he
did not abuse them. We can safely
intrust whatever is necessary to Presl-
dent Wilson at this moment with abso-
lutte assurance that he will do what
is expected of him faithfully and wise
ly. Are we willing to make our con-
tribution? The soul Of America Is not
yet on fire but we are slowly awaking
to the greatness of the battle. Our
Minis are slowly comprehending. The
iron is slowly entering our soul as 1t
entered the souls of England and
France. But it must pass to our hands
and feet. I can not think the chivalry