Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-13
NO TIME FOR HYSTERIA.

August IS, mass meeting viii Je
held in Americas for the purpose OF
discussing the CONSUMPTION act, has
brought home to the citizens of Sum
Ter the realization of the fact that a
movement which has been more or
less sporadic in its outbreaks, has
gained at least a modisum of support
in this immediate section. The press
of the state has for several weeks past
carried stories of attempts on the port
Of opponents of the draft law to or
ganize a concerted effort nullify its
provisions, but the people of Sumter
county have regarded the incidents as
of little effect as far as this immed
late section is concerned.
The fact that enough open opposi-
ton to the draft act has developed in
Sumter county to precipitate climax
such as is indicated in the present in
stance, is a matter of vital interest to
every citizen who has at heart the
good name of the community with
which the affairs of his daily existence
have become identified
1t is to be sincerely hoped that no
meeting of the kind be held. This is
no time for hysteria; no time for fan
atical outbursts which avail not at
all, and which lead to consequences
the seriousness of which cannot be
questioned
The draft act has become the law of
the land, and the whole power of the
government is committed to the en-
forcement of its provisions. 1t was
enacted by the governing body of the
nation, composed of representatives OF
the people, duly elected and clothed
with the authority Of the Constitution
oi the United States. Its constitution
ality is unquestioned, except by few
individuals whose opposition to the
principles involves causes them to seize
upon every detail which offers even the
most remote possibility of furnishing
support for their contentious.
The time for efforts to stir up organ
lied OPPOSITION to the draft has passed;
before the measure was enacted into
law, there was no question as to every
mans right to exert every ounce of
Ibis power against the proposition. But
now that the act has been written upon
the statute books of the nation, it be-
Genes the duty of every citizen worthy
Of the name to uphold the law and to
render obedience to its duly constitut-
&c authority.
America, as a nation, has no insa-
liable appetite for war. Americans
are not possessed of an inordinate de-
sire for bloodshed and the thought of
marching to battle, with the POSSIBLE
ity of being left on the battlefield to
/ fill a soldiers grave is not our
highest ambition None of US are
particularly taken with the idea of fur
nishing cannon-fodder.
But there comes time when even
the most peaceful citizen realizes the
necessity of using brute force to make
the pursuit of happiness" and even
existence itself possible Such crises
occur in the life of the nation as we'll
that of the individual The present
situation in which the United States
finds itself is unquestionably one of
these cricical junctures.
No matter how repugnant the idea
Of enforced military service; no mat
ter how great our personal antagon-
ism to the principles involved in the
draft act it becomes our plain duty
as loyal citizens to put aside all self
ish considerations in view of the tre-
mendous and overshadowing need of
TIE nation.
1t is to be devoutly hoped that no
anti-draft meeting will be held in
Americas, making it possible for the
finger of scorn to be pointed at a com