Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-15
A PLAIN Statement of Facts

spring Austria to refusal. is a proof
of the truth of the adage, Whom the
gods would destroy. they first make
mad
The war of independence was really
carried on against the will of the Eng
lish people by the German king, VINO
happened to be then the king Of Great
Britain. with hired Eessians, who were
also Germans, against the leadership OF
that greatest Englishman that America
ever produced-George Washington Ed
mund Burke. the elder Pitt, who was
then Lord Chatham. and Charles James
Fox came much nearer representing rear
English sentiment than the HanoVerlah
King George Ill
II know II will sound TO a lot of you
curious. but the thing l believe that L
resent most is what Germany sald 10
us about painting our ships like the
display window of barbershop, when
we could go. by her allowance, once
week into one port in one country
more than I do even the sinking of our
ships and the drowning of our people.
I think nearly every gentleman resents
an insult more than he resents an in
Jury. A man that comes upon my place
and goes through a path that is not
public highway or who incidentally In
lures some property that is growing, L
can forgive; but one who comes up 10
me and tells me that he is going TO DO
IL whenever he pleases, because he is
stronger than I am, is man whom L
cannot forgive.
Germany thought she is stronger
than we, and she is right just now.
These ready nations assume a great
deal in Connection with unready nations.
We two branches of the English-speak-
have always been unready for war,
thank God, and shall remain so. because
we think II is better to call out the
full power of the people when the emer-
gency comes than il is to keep them
weighted down for twenty years in or
der to do one years fighting.
AS a rule people do one years fighting
out of each twenty years of their ac-
tual existence. We have done less, of
course.
which would you rather do, fight
Prussia now with France and England
and Russia to help you, or fight her
later. when she is foot loose, by our
selves?
You have got to do one or the other.
| tell you moreover that If Germany
does win that fight upon the continent
of Europe-with Belgium already a vas
sal state. Holland to become one. France
likewise by defeat, with all their forts
and naval stations. and ship yards OPP
en- as well as her own she will begin to
get ready to whip us unless Englands
fleet prevents II.
why does not Norway resent these
insults? Oh. Mr.. President. it is a sad
and tragic thing; but Norway is too
| weak. Why does not Denmark act?
| Because her very hands are i'm the
mouth of the mad dog. Why does not
Holland act? Again. because she dares
not German troops are lined across
her border. ready to walk over her pros
trate body as they walked over the body
of Belgium; to shoot her civilians if
they express ympahty for themselves
against the German enemy
"A brave race are the Dutch. They
faced Spain in its pride and power,
with the help of England. They fought
and died for liberty to speak and wor-
ship. But. Mr.. President. almost any
people in the world. no matter how
brave. now and then can be cowed and
for a time act like whipped slaves. 1t
| Is the most tragic and pathetic thing
in all history when that happens either
| to man or a nation.
we have got to go into this wal
now, and We are going into IT for all W.
L
for all our capital is worth. for all thai
we have and all that we are; and I. fol
one, hope that we will never make peace
until the universal decree of the civ
ilized world has gone forth to the effect
that the Hapsburgers and the Hohen
zollerns have ceased to reign. Tn,
Hohenzollerns have been able; the,
have been efficient; but race infected
with the poisonous idea that il is rulfne
by divine ordinance is crazy"
Please do not misunderstood me. II
you have criticised this government
stop it. Be loyal and say that yol
are sorry war had to come, but tha'
under the circumstances there is moth,
ing TO do but meet the issue, and If we
perish we will die like the Spartans
/ of old-hghting. not fleeing. 1 heard
a prayer yesterday that touched every
heart in the audience. Mr.. Walder
went through the Civil war. He ha.
the inlrmities of four years exposur,
as well as of age, but in his heart he is
as strong a patriot as one can find His
prayer was for the boys who ar,
marching, for those who are enlisting
that If it's best, to spare them. but thai
II they go to the front and fall, may
they fall a mans full length toward
| heaven"
| | mean nothing personal I've many
German friends. l only beg our Amer
leans to do their duty cheerfulIy. AL
you have said. or the rebellion you havS
/ had in your heart is because you've no
stopped to consider as carefully as Vol
should have done. You do not really in.
tend to be disloyal, but there are pait
emissaries all about us, in every coun
/ ~ of every state. whose special worl
II is 70 create this very spirit of dis
content and criticism. Let us re
cOnsecrate ourselves, For God and oul
country To be true to one helps tn,
| other cause
Faithfully yours,
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.
Tuscumbia, Ala.
TRUE AMERICAN nnnnHrp