The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-09
ARMAe EDpoNI

III second Stages as Tar as America
is concerned.
The FIRST stage was one Of rather
PLEASANT excitement, attendant on
the hustle Of military preparation.
The stir Of martial music and the
fesvor Of patriotism.
The second stage is one Of grim
reality.
America is shocked into a sudden
realization that the war is no holi-
day taunt for the soldiers, that will
end by Christmas with a triumphant
march up Inter Den Linden.
IL is not TO be won merely by buy
ins Liberty Bonds and saving food.
necessary as these measures are.
they are but incidents now. They
must be done without urging or
question. But the real work is to
come.
The issue Is being clarified; the
lines drawn more clearly. England,
France and the United States must
stand together in the last bloody
battle for the right to live as free ma
tions in a free world. TO them falls
the task Of turning back the tide of
German brutality and ruthlessness.
Tney must save the world If it is to
be- saved.
Moral support isn't enough to win
the war. America must fight, and
hght harder than she ever fought
before.
The day when the war could be
carried as an extra" or viewed as a
side issue has passed. The war
must become the nations one aim.
The full resources Of the country
must be thrown into the scale.
The Italian fasco was a rude
awakening from the slumber into
which America had been lulled by
the reports Of progress in Flanders.
TIE Russian debacle may prove
greater catastrophe. Undoubtedly
from Germany. The Germans have
BEEN plotting for just this situation
since the revolution occurred. Ger
many could afford even to cede all
her conquests in Russia for a sep
arate peace. Russia. torn with civil
strlfe, cannot become a formidable
military opponent for a decade, and
il Germany could win the war
AGAINST the other allies she could
take what sections Of Russia she
wanted. at her leisure.
II peace were declared today, Ger
many could claim, with very good
reas0n, to have won a complete vic
tory. She is today at the very sum-
NIT Of her success. judged from a
military standpoint. Morally, COM
mereially and industrially she is
BANKRUPT, but a German peace that
would leave her dream Of a Central
Empire realized. as it is today, would
give her the opportunity quickly to
resonp and entrench herself for fur
ther aggressions.
Itls the time for the government
to -YelI the worst. There is no rea-
SON TO believe that any news is be-
ing Concealed, but It is no time to
placa pleasantly optimistic construc-
tions on the news that comes from
the European battlefields. 1t is no
time to lull America with pretty
stores Of the cracking" Of Germany,
pleasant though they are to hear.
Mis a time for action. not talk. If
the government feels that alien en-
eInies along the coast should be in
ternad, they should not be warned in
advance and given time to commit
further depredations like the fifty
watsrfront fires in Brooklyn in the
coul4e of a few weeks. They should
be lhterned first and told about it
afterwards.
1.-THE country is forced to the ugly
step Of the CONSUMPTION of labor, ii
should be taken unhesitatingly.
L. CONSUMPTION of industries is
need, they must be conscripted.
It lt is necessary to swallow tenn
pc lily the German theory that the
state is everything and the individual
nor ng, in order to avoid having that
theefy become a permanent basis for
TIL government, it should be adopt
ed
half measures have not brought
I'D bate results, the government
Slid b go the limit.
long as one German brute and
his ckeys have the power to turn
the orld topsy-turvy, and to impose
Their win on humanity, life is no
lon worth the living. Life is not
So Veet in itself. that Americans
wi ever consent to come under the
do hation Of Germany as Belgium,
Ru a, Rumania. and Serbia have.
40 bst is too great to pay to keep
the hun on the other side of the
At tic. If Italy Is crushed, II Rus
sia alzes peace. and America fails
70 her full share now, the day well
M come when she win be called
up to night Germany alone.
tunate indeed will this country
be- II can learn the lesson Italy
an aussia teach.
the time TO give the lie TO the
Ge n sneers that America is but
ion Of boosters. The boasts
m be made good. The die is cast
Ia There can be no turning back,
n0 akening. no hesitation. Every
thing that man has; everything