Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-08-09
Fighting On Foreign Soil.

One OF the specious objections raised
against the participation OF the United
States in the present war is a plea against
compelling American soldiers 10 fight on
foreign soil. Those who raise il say that
they would defend our coast and territory
against invasion or attack, but that they
would not send force abroad or join in
the conflict until the country is invaded.
Their attitude means simply that they are
opposed 10 the war altogether Making
the point against foreign service in full
understanding OF its significance and the
necessary conclusion from it, they hope
that some OF their hearers will accept the
principle without realizing whittier it
leads.
Everyone knows that Germany. our
present enemy, has not ship in which
10 carry an invading expedition to Amer
ica, or a soldier TO spare for service on
this side OF the Atlantic, and that il has
not even declared war against US. So, if
we had not despatched force to France,
there would have been no war and no
redress OF grievances.
The speciouS objectorS maintain that
any war that makes it necessary TO send
a military expedition abroad is wrong
and un-American. We are peace-loving
people; we are protected by distance
from any possible invading enemy we
do not wish TO be mixed up in European
politics or in European quanels. All that
is true enough; but the question OF peace
or war is not one 10 be decided by the
consideration where the actual fighting is
TO take place. Although we love peace,
we are ready, as every proud and self
respecting nation is ready, 10 resent un-
provoked and intoerable injury in the
only way in which we can resent il
namely, by war. And the place where
fhe war is 10 be fought is matter
OF strategy. 1t would be the height OF
folly 10 wait Tor the enemy TO fight us on
our own soil.
We are now protected from actual in
vasion by distance and by the fact that
our present enemies are preoccupied; but
distance does not protect us from attacks
upon our rights, our property and the
lives of our people, or from the infamous
intrigues TO stir up sedition and disorder
at home and 10 embroil US with other
countries. II those offenses and every
one admits that they are oifenSeS-are
sufficient cause OF war. there must be
war; and if there is war, troops must be
sent wherever they will be most effective.
If the offenses are not sufficient, the war
is wrong, wherever fought
Is it un-American 10 send troops out OF
the country 10 fight in war? Was il un-
American 10 send naval force TO Tripoli
in 1903 10 punish the pirates who destroy
ed our ships and enslaved our sailors ?
Was il un-American 10 send troops 10
Cuba and Porto Rico 10 liberate those
islands from Spain ? Shall we condemn
the attempts TO restore order in Mexico
because they required military operations
on foreign soil? In the last two instances
we engaged in enterprises solely for the
benefit OF others, and with no desire TO
gain everything for ourselves. Surely we
acted in accordance with ahigh Amer
ican ideal yet we are now confronted
with principle that virtually condemns
our conduct, not because we espoused
bad cause, but because we took the only
possible steps TO aid good one. The
word-outside Germany-applauds our
entry into the war and our resolution 10
make that entry mean something as one
OF tile most unselfish acts ever performed
by any nation; and the world is right.