The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-10

Hon. John l.. McIaurin Addresses
Meeting ut Court House.

Hshl OH the Senefai SUBJECT or the
war situation. Mr.. McLaurin came
TO Sumter at the invitation of Mr.. G..
EiVm Stubbs and other friends who
wished to hear his views on the world
war The Court House was not
hlled but what the audience lacked
IN numbers was made up by the cor
ulaI,ty OF the reception accorded Mr..
Mcl-aurin and the interest and attcn-
tion with which he was heard. AS
usual he made a forcible speech that
took with the crowd, despite some
rather palpabie Enthusiastically ni,s
gloriticatiOn Of war-like nations and
war as essential to progress and
civilization.
The following authorized outline OF
his address gives an idea of his line
of thought and the trend of his ar
gument:
IF all the wisest men in all the
nations when assembled at the Hague
10 discuss universal peace, hal
formed a conspiracy to destroy civil
ization and bring about chaos, they
could not have planned more effcc-
lively than the course that has been
Followed for two generations. This
war is the direct result of false
economic, social and political syS-
TENS. A political democracy canno:
exist without social and industria!
democracy. That is the secret 81
Germanys strength today. 1t is M
industrial democracy with a militar,
government. Read the lesson in Rus.
sia If kerensky wins, Russia will
lead the world in true democracy. We
are now writing the most tragic chap
er i'm the history of man. out of its
supreme agony there must come Il
great blessing to the human race. Tc
deny this would be to impeach God'..
benevoience. 1t would be to deny His
rule in this universe. War is not only
a Judgment, but often punishment
The Beast will surely be destroyed.
Nations grown corrupt will fall, bu,
others Qike New RUSSIA will rise
strong in youth and innocence, ole
faiths will be destroyed, but from new
and purer affairs will ascend the
a nf nn..tA
ing sorely wounded by Germany, tho
birth place of modern democracy and
Martin Luther, but ere long the ban
ncr Of peoples government will way,
triumphant over the grave OF Prus
sian tyranny. Out of this war will
come universal brotherhood of ma
tions and real democracy. contain.
ing neither n multi-millionaire nor -.
neither master nor a
slave.
"All human advancement comes as
the result OF Il strife. Only warlikt
nations march in The forefront and
lead the worlds progress. Another 81
years or peace, and civilization would
have been destroyed through con
centration Of wealth in few
hands. Lust, corruption and race
suicide were doing their silent work
The nations were supporting a grea
gilded roof on rotten props and brol<
EN- pillars.
THE United States will save the
world. 1t is her God given mission
We are the chosen people"
The following interview was fur
nished for publication:
Senator John l.. McLaurin express
ed himself as being very much pleas
ed with his reception i'm Sumter.
Speaking of the Claremont Hotel, he
said: '"They set as good a table as !
have found in many day during
the war times. 1t is n good example
that all of the hotels ought to fol-
low, having girl Mattresses. 1t il
much more pleasant to be served by
these neat, we'll dressed, refined young
ladies. Besides that, il releases negro
walters who ought TO be doing the
useful work over the city. Its be
ioved mayor was at the gate Of death.
l congratulate him on his recovery
| congratulate your city and the STATE
OF South Carolina. May he live long
tC serve this country.
Asked about the cotton situation
the Senator said. well I was not in
vited down here to talk about cotton
the fact is cotton is man able al
present to take care of itself. Am
holding my cotton. L want to say
again that Sumter has peculiar geo
graphical ndvantopoc 60, ,,,o oo,