Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-24
THE CRIME OF THE pAoIF1srs
(By Hapsburg Liebe of the vigilantes

NDy hdpsUuiS LleDe O1 the NlB1dnleSJ
We are making history now, my
American brother, and this history is
going to be written in lines Of truth.
There will be none of the prejudiced
lying and distorted bunk that has, un-
fortunately for US all, been in our school
histories heretofore; there will be no at
tempt to blot out any such matters as
the Bladensburg affair. A spade is go
ing to be called spade, hereafter. And
just where is the Pacifist going to stand
after the war is overt
Yes, spade is going to be called a
spade, and Benedict Arnold will be
called a Benedict Arnold. The new
America, and the new England and
France and Russia and Italy, are sure
to look with contempt toward these trai.
tors and the blood of these traitors
The Pacifist of today is an enemy OF
world democracy. There will be no place
in the future for these persons who
sought to put on the shoulders of an
other generation the task of ridding the
world Of Prussianism; these persons who
still seek, at this late hour, when public
sentiment and the righteous wrath OF
the earth s finest Nation is turned
righteously against them, to put the
Sand Of cowardice into the machinery
of the already slow-acting government.
will be pariahs. Yes, pariahs. That's a
long thought, and it's thought that de-
serves your attention-if you have any
leanings toward pacifism.
The man who talks peace now, with
out being willing to fight for peace, is
no less than a traitor-provroed he is
person of sound mind; either that, OF
he is in the employ of the German gov
ernment. Not only is he traitor to
his country, but he is a traitor to him
self and to his family and to friends
He is more than that. He is coward. A
coward as well as traitor. This is a
big thing to say, know. and have
MT said it without thinking about it.
Down here in my neck Of the woods II
is serious thing to call man cow
ard. One is supposed. to be ready to
fight, when he calls man a coward
But IN not afraid. Pacifists, you know
are pacifists.
There are in America, am exceeding
ly sorry to say, some millions OF men
who think Pacifism and are afraid to
declare themselves openly. Yes, millions.
For one thing, it wouldn't be good
business to openly declare themselves
These men are moral towards, as well as
towards physically
"It isn't our fight" they whisper,
"It's the fight of those other coun-
tries. If the Germans were to come over
here, I'D be among the first to defend
my flag"
They haven It any flag, and they are
liars That's strong word, of course; ;
but it, a strong case and it demands
the use of strong language. 1t is their
fight. 1t is democracy's fight, human
ity's fight, God Almighty's fight. 1t
is an Armageddon of democracy. The
salvation of the world depends wholly
upon the outcome of it. The beast is
loose; the devil is unclaimed. The right
must win, it cannot lose; but the cost
of the winning will be heavy unless this
strong Nation-including perhaps some
of those who sit among the giants at
Washington-thinks more of utter pat
riotism and less of party and selfish
interests.
The case of the Pacifist is the world
old case of the man who wants some
thing for nothing. Peace--a lasting
peace, peace not chained to slavish ser
vitude, peace with human hberty-will
never be had for nothing. 1t must be
paid for, and paid for in blood. There
is no other way. As long as the Hun and
the Vandal infest the earth, there is no
other way.
Remember this-every man in Ameri-
ca is working for his country, or he is
working for the kaiser. If you are not
patriotic, then you are working for the
kaiser, the man who set himself up as
a sort of partner with the Almighty,
the man who copntenanced all the un-
speakable out1ages of Belgium.
Whom are you serving3
In the wake of the meatless day is
tho nookatIacc trol1car