The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-07-07
AMERICAS PURPOSE

The statesmanlike opportunism of the president has been
shown in many ways during the great crisis, notably by the
speech made on Flag day, June II. In paying an eloquent
tribute to Old Glory he took the opportunity of informing our
people why we have gone to war. His explanation will be
convincing, not because Mr.. Wilson is a student or a pro-
fessor of history, but because he Is the president VINO e.
elected last November for the reason that he kept us out of
war"-as long as he could-as long as the honor and safety of
the United States permitted. His sincerity of intention is ac-
erous support. The success of the Liberty Loan proves it; SO
does the general awakening of the popular intelligence to the
realization of our concern i'll the calamitous events that have
ensanSuined the face OF Europe, and some other continents
also. Even now we are not fully awake to the intensity of
their meaning, simply because physical distance obscures; for.
even the peoples of Europe, the British particularly, were slow
to realize the bloody reality until it had been brought home to
them by Zeppelin raids and by the wounded returning from
the fighting on land and sea. We are facing the most stu
pendous crisis in all human history. IF the military masters
Of Germany succeed, they will be safe, but Germany and the
world will be undone," as the president said: IF they fail. Ger
many is saved and the world will be at peace. If they succeed,
America will fall with the menace" The German military ma
chine vas organized to make this earth impossible for any but
the cogs in that relentless juggernaut of devastation. The
world cannot remain half slave and half free" Either the
non-moral conscienceless domination of IA military caste is to
prevail and democracy be sent-Where civilization is already
to he shambles, or the wrOng-headed hysteria of a great people
must be cured by defeat, and representative government
emerge triumphant from the weller of war. "The world must
be made safe for democracy or it will be rendered secure for
military autocracy" A few months ago there were many who
said: ut is none of our quarrel; let us keep out of it." That
seems long ago. \ succession of maritime assassins provoked
our resentment, the enslavement of civilians in unhappy Bel
into recognition of the sinister forces at work, not only to con
quer Europe, but to threaten this continent. Then we realized
that this was no European war. ii a world wal. a contest for
the liberty of the nations on every continent, and more particu-
larly for that freedom to live and let live which is the heritage
be%queathed. alike by the men that fought under Washington
and by those that fought under Lincoln. The American idea
IS at stake. the right of those who submit to authority to have
a voice in their own government" we fight that representa-
tive government shall not perish from the earth: we fight also
for the liberties of the small nations, for IA universal dominion
or right by such a concert Of free peoples as shall bring peace
ana safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free "
truly we have a great cause. For more than two wears
we stood safely outside the great calamity: we prospered by
the necessities of the fighting nations on the other side of the
Atlantic; we took their gold until we were gorged with it: they
Jlbed at our apparent gluHOny: they sneered at our seeming
tmndlty, but they are answered now. No nation ever risked ifs
blood and It's treasure so disinterestedly as the United States
has done in coming to the aid of the allies-now I'M allies En-
dangered we may be by German designs of overseas conquest
but not many people thought so when they put their hand into
the presidents and vowed to see this thing through. Or task
Is greater than self-interest and more glorious than self defense
FOR human freedom and political liberty we risk everything
10 such a task we can dedicate our lives and mr. fortunes
everything that we are and everything that we havc."-T. A.
Rckard in Mining and Scientific Press.