The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1917-12-20
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Jimmie and a German Boy Clash
Must Do Three Things to Save
Country.
Number Five

1t was q warm evening, so Uncle
Dan went out to lawn seat under the
spreading branches Of the great tree
that suggested the farms name of Oak .
Hill. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
ing for him, so Uncle Dan was cap .
tured by the boys on short order.
Say, Uncle DAN" Billie began. eve
had a red-hOt argument at school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said |
that German schools We're miles ahead !
of our schools and that no one could |
come up to the educated German. We'll, |
Jimmie got hot under the collar and |
handed it back to him good and plenty. |
Jimmie said if their education taught
them to torpedo Lusitanias, sink hos
pital ships, murder hundreds Of Wom-
en- and children, make slaves OF
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all sorts Of crimes
then we did not want that kind of
education here. What do you think
about il, Uncle Dan? / told Jimmie
YOU spent a lot of time in Europe and
knew all about schools, so give US your
opinion"
"Well," replied Uncle Dan, deliber-
ately. "the German schools are very
thorough; they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
industrial training given there is prob
ably the best to be found. The schools
as a whole, however, in my opinion,
| appeal to the head only, and neN to
the heart. The aim and trend is to
make the individual blindly submis-
| siye to the Prussian plan of world do
minion; they teach that it is the des-
tiny of Germany to rule the world. and
that to the glory and advance OF Ger
many, in this plan, all things must give
way: that the kaiser as head OF the
state, can do no wrong if he carries
forward the plan of world control.
Some of the greatest teachers and
preachers even defend and justify her
heartless crushing of Belgians and the
MANY other atrocious crimes she has
committed in this war. Thank God,
our American education reaches both
tho head and the heart. 1t is an edu'
cation with a soul, and we must main
tain the high ideals we have fixed. In
word, In Germany, the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
ment while here the government ex-
lists to serve the people"
"Just wait minute interrupted
Billie. Say that over again slowly, so
can write it down"
Uncle Dan, smilingly, complied.
Billie exclaimed: "Now, we will hand
that nut out for Carl to crack
Carl. YOU know" continued Billie,
"has a very smart father who keeps
him posted on the German arguments.
Carl said our government was only
an experiment anyway; that it would
not last twenty years. and that 1t
might burst up any old time. Jimmie
asked him If Germany was so mighty
good, why they did not go back there
to live"
"Our government will go on forever,
won't it, Uncle Dan?
"Now," said Uncle Dan. you are
raising q big question, and one that
has troubled me for years. Our gov
eminent Is still in the experimental
stage: in fact, 1t is the greatest ex'
periment ever undertaken, and If pop
ular government is to be successful, a
few things must be done, otherwise, to
paraphrase the great Lincoln. the gov
, eminent of the people, by the people
, and for the people, will perish. 1t is
, nv firm conviction" said Uncle Dan
. In a very impressive manner, that II
orr country Is to 60 on, as We hope
and pray, we must very quickly do
} at least three things, and l will name
them in the order Of Importance as II
appears to me:
"FIrst, adopt compulsory universal
military training of all young men
physically fit before they reach the
age of twenty years.
"Next, require that every foreigner
who comes here to live must, within a
reasonable time. say a year, declare
his intention of becoming an American
, citizen and take the necessary steps to
do so, thereby, from that moment, as
, suming all the obligations of citizen
: shin of our country. and that means he
} must defend our flag upon equal terms
with our native born, and If he Is not
willing to do this, he should be sent
= back from whence he came"
"That's the stuff" exclaimed Billie
Sand, finally, enact such legislation
as will make voting compulsory. Pop
ular government is based upon the
participation of all and the rule Of
5 the majority, and democracy cannot
, continue and be successful unless We
live up to the spirit Of the institu
. ton.
1.-THE first step, however, is the pass
Ing of the Chamberlain bill for univer
+ sal military training. If you will gel
the leading citizen, and especially the