Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-18
A MATTER OF POLITICS.


lnation in shape to fulfill its obligation
Ito humanity by striking at the heart o.
IGerman barbarism, there appears evil
dence of an intention on the part OF
political leaders opposed to President
Wilson and his co-workers, to confuse
1.-THE public with reference to the OBJ
iects influencing the United States to
declare a state of war against Teu-
tonic militarism.
While these attempts to place OBJ
stacles in the way of the nations
leaders emanate from comparatively
small group of irreconcilable political
opponents of the Democratic party
generally, and President Wilson in
particular, their ill-effect may easily
Increase unless peremptorily quashed
by the staunch patriotism of that great
and overwhelming majority of Amer
lean citizenry which fully understands
the necessity for united action, un-
swerving support and fullest co-opera-
ton in this period of national stress,
From the early days of the war in
Europe, when German troops sweep
relentlesly across the borders of Bel
GUM, wreaking their vengeance upon
its fair cities and fruitful acres, vent
ing their blood-lust upon the helpless
human victims whose present pitifui
condition cries aloud to civilization,
there has been a steady, consistent eff
fort on the part Of certain senators.
congressman and newspapers to force
President Wilson into a declaration Of
war against Germany. The destruction
of the Lusitania by German sub
marine added fuel to the flame kindlei
| by this element and during the period
when the President exerted every
power at his command to avert war
| by honorable means, his opponents,
who are now endeavoring to arouse an
tagonism against him. reviled him as
a underwriting coward, without the
courage to take a decisive stand
against Germany which might lead to
war.
Now that the United States has
been forced to do battle for the princi-
pies of humanity, justice and civiliza-
ton, these same voices are heard in
the land, but apparently forgetful of
their previous bellicose sentiments.
In bewildered and pitiful accents
they wall, why are we at war;"
The Philadelphia Record, in pointed
terms, takes occasion to give terse
answer to these inquirers, who for pol
i,ical reasons make pretense of being
unable to comprehend why the United
States should now be straining every
nerve to lend material assistance to the
Allies in the struggle to crush forever
the power that would over-run the
world and place the iron heel of
"kultur" upon the neck of civiliza-
ton.
The Records reply is in part as fol-
lows:
I'VE are at war for the exact reason
for which they were berating the in
activity of President Wilson for ore
than two years. They howled for war.
1t would not have been justified till
the resources of diplomacy were ex
hausted, and they didn't get war, and
they wore out their voices denouncing
the President for writing notes wher
he should have done something. I'm
Influenced by their noise, he continued
to warn Germany of the consequences
OF pushing the submarine campaign in
violation of international law and hui
lmanity, and these republican states
men made merry over his spineless-
ness, his skill with words Everything
said the late Joseph Choate, thai
wouds could do had been done, but
words were not the most effective ar
gument between nations. They are not
buf tho OaYt thing &c hl0ws The hl0ws