The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1917-05-18

idT SIOTL VI true MANHOOD anu true
, womanhood and that man or that wo-
man who does not place the honor of
country above all worldly possessions
has no right to participate in the con-
secration of this holy place, from
| which will soon float the purest EN-,
blem Of a nations devotion.
Not only is our duty to our own
country plain, but it is equally as i'm
perative that we do our whole duty
to our heroic allies. On this occa-
sion it were we'll that we take stock
of ourselves, face the situation as be-
,, comes truth-loving American citizens:
What has been our attitude in this
war;. the most titanic conflict of all
times? Candidly can we console our.
selves with the thought that this ma
ton has up to this time met its obi
cations and fulfilled its duty, it's duty
to the world, to civilization and to
| humanity?
Although England and France have
for nearly three years poured out
| without stint their blood and treasure,
have made sacrifices that are appall-
ing even to contemplate have never
counted the cost either in lives or
| property, that human liberty, that
those principles which we boast are
the very foundations of our civic struc-
| ture, might not perish from the earth,
what has our nation done? 1t has
sold them supplies and munitions, but
at profits that would shame the most
| rapacious trust; it has loaned them
money, but at rates of interest that
would cause the most constituencies
usurer to blush. Now can we aside
from the mere preservation of our ma
tiOnal honor and self respect, most
outrageously assailed longer hesitate
to do our part and our whole part for
the preservation of everything which
our civilization holds dear? Are we
willing that a civilization that ordered
the rape of Belgium, that wantonly
| murdered more than a hundred de
fenseless women and children on the
Lusitania, that has destroyed and de
vastated for the mere lust of revenge
should be the standard of the world
What security would our nation
have, once the power of heroic France
were broken, the fleet of the might!
British empire sent to the bottom, tina
it would not be the victim Of the same
kultur that has laid waste the flares
places in all Europe?
God pity the nation, as God pity tn,
man who is blind to everything IL
life save his own comfort and seltisl
interests. Are we of America, citi
zens Of this glorious state of Tennes
see, willing that the France of La
tayette and Guizot and Carnot an(
Theirs and Joffre and Neville should
perish. Are we who the Language
speak that Shakespeare spake, thu
faith and morals hold that Milton
held" willing, for sordid and selfsl
gain, that the England of Pym ant
Hampden and Bright, the land of Run
nymeade and Naseby and Preston
Moor should be destroyed?
There is nothing more to be desire'
or that will be greater blessing thai
a just and lasting peace for this wa
distraut world But in order that i
may be a lasting peace, the issue!
which now divide the world must b,
settled and settled right. Our nation
has entered this struggle with def
mite and holy purpose and in tn,
D words of the martyred Lincoln. i
!, must refuse peace until that object
lnder God, shall have been accom-
: )lished. Just as Lincoln we'll said n,
nation could survive half slave ant
: lalf free, 50 also, civilization has com
) 20 pass where the issues of life ant
: death between freedom and absolut
, ISM must be decided in order that
may survive. The world cannot long
er exist half free and half slave
: Good, great and lasting good, come
from every righteous war Our ma
: ion entered its Armagedden a loos
: Confederacy of discordant states,
emerged from four years of awful con
J iict mighty nation knit together a
II homogeneous whole, ready t
: march shoulder to shoulder as one t.
meet all the issues of life. Freedom
human progress, never won a battl
hat some did not die. Religious lii
,rty never achieved a great victor
without it's martyrs.
When this war is over, when all tn
world proclaims those just principle
r upon which the governments of Amer
ca. of England and of France res