The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-23
AMERICANS CAUSE
fcontinued from Page One. }

kCOQLlQu6u LUm rags Oue'J
you ought to do II you don't want to
get left. Now is the time to make
peace. What do, you want to fight
for? England and France are all in
and the United States is only fooling
you. Everybody knows that in the
Omitted States. ! Just came from there.
am an American, know"
The great Field Of Mars, the an
cient parade ground of Petrograd, is
The forum and huge debating school
Of the new democracy. Every Sun
day you can see there 100000 or
10000 people in groups around the
speakers, listening to oratory. Ora
tory Is the Russian national game.
These agents Of mischief, recently
returned from America, run from
meeting to meeting, reiterating the
lies l have quoted above.
There is no chance to deny that
thsy do an inlnity o. harm. The
German propaganda in the United
States and Germany, which directs
their efforts, Judged with perfect ac-
curacy Of the harm they could do.
Nothing better for the kaiser has
been done since the war began.
They undermine faith. They de-
Btroy courage. They make many Rus
SLAMS believe that the United States
70 about to seek peace, and Russia
therefore will be left fighting hope
lessly alone.
Il was this treacherous activity,
combined with the pre-arranged mu-
tiny Of the German agents in the
ranks, that caused the recent slump
81 the Russian line IN Galicla. Direct
cause and direct effect.
But take good heed Of the next
point IN this black record. Every
thing that happens in the United
States that can be used as material
by these back-frers gets promptly
over there.
Every time a plausible, cleverly
named pro-German organization calls
peace convention the fact gets to
the Field Of Mars, and is used to show
that the people Of the United States
is opposed to the war.
Every time a senator or representa-
live introduces a disloyal resolution,
news Of 1t flies without delay to the
huge German machine that is work
Ing ceaselessly in Russia to break
down the spirit Of the Russian people
and cause them to lay down their
ARMS.
Every time senator undertakes
TO hamstring his government by
blocking necc--ary legislation, cast
Ing discredit on the motives Of Amer
lea or endorsing this clever German
maneuver or that, the news goes
swiftly to Petrograd and the Shiny
creatures that do Germany's work on
the Field of Mars chuckle and are
glad.
They have been provided with
hne fresh lot Of ammunition.
The machinery to get 1t quickly to
Rus. 4 as soon as it appears in the
senate must have been set up long
ago.
There Is no question that 1t is won
derfully alert active and efficient.
For instance, the moment the spe-
cial commission to Russia was sug
Bested last April food Of propagan-
Go was let loose to hamper its work.
Every conceivable lie about it, its
objects, the men that composed 1t, the
government and people of the United
States, the aims of the United States
In the war, was turned loose by mail
upon Russia and battalion Of agents
sent along TO spread the poison ond
see that It took hold
Germany's desperate need was that
Russia should not be aggressive in the
war. Germany must therefore null
lfy the effect OF the commissions
visit, and there was the way to do 1t.
all these things show very plainly
the existence in this country Of
monstrous and cunningly directed
German machine.
They also show the appalling
chances that ignorant or disloyal men
IN congress take when they try to
hobble this country in the great work
It has undertaken to do.
II ID not for me to dwell upon a
situation that drives thoughtful men
abroad from their p, but ask
you merely these questions:
At this stage of the game, what do
you think would happen If Germany
we're to break through that Russian
line?
And what can keep her from
breaking through but the spirit and
united purpose Of the Russian peo-
pie?
When / arrived in this country 1
read In the American newspapers
many undeserVedly bitter things
about Russia because part Of her
troops had wavered.
Il they waver again, say no bitter
things about Russia.
Say them about certain men and
certain newspapers in the United
States for they alone will be to
Not only for that days work, but
Tor the colossal disaster and years Of
daughter and suffering that may fol-
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