The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1917-04-26
A WORLD LEAGUE FOR PEACE.
Grafton Delivered by Robert Gideon at the
Forsyth High School CratOriCal
Contest.

as the address Of Robert Gideon in the
local high school oratorical contest a
few weeks ago, and won first place in
the contest. It is now published here
for the first time. Editor.
Christianity is passing through the
crucibe Of trial by FIRE. The called
Christian nations OF the earth are tax
ing up arms against each other for the
mastery Of the earth. II the grea'
battlefelds Of Europe, are falling men,
the flower Of the nations. Men who
il they we're not forced TO go 10 wa,
would be today rendering a great ser
vice to humanity, But they had TO
20 to war and kill a few million men,
because Europe was in the grip OF the
past. 1t was choked by the geos;s tt
dead ideas and those ghosts never let go
without spilling precious human blood,
Europe would not listen 10 the peace
advocater; or to the men who tried in
every way to prevent the impending
war. When the war is over, the peace
maker will be worshipped. II they
had been worShipped beforehand, the
nations would be today peaceful and
happy; but they ignored the peace
makers and are now involved in the
worlds greatest war.
In this crisis it behooyes the men
Of our country who are interested in
the good Of mankind, to maniully take
their stand in behalf Of Christian prin'
ciples and practice and strive for a
League Of Peace throughout the land.
II this league is not made the precious
works Of civilization will be lost in this
upheavel Of primitive warfare.
The greatest wal in all history, is
the war that is now being fought. /
is costing the nations involved the rate
Of SO billion dollars a year, What il
so much money spent for? Fo
Slaughtering the sturdiest Of the race,
and destroying ships, factories, ant
artistic monuments Of mankind. It j!
10 furnish powder and lead to kill the
fathers Of sweet little children. 1t il
used to slaughter sons Of bewailinl
mothers.
What could be done with this large
sum Of money that is now being vast
ed in war. 1t would provide school
and teachers for every child on eartl
who is now being neglected and grow
ing up to be an enemy Of society. l
would stamp out tuberculosis, typhoid
smallpox and similar pests I,on al
the world. This wasted sum Of none
would take every little child from
labor and put him in training for use
full citizenship. II applied TO tn
wages Of workmep, instead OF bein
applied to their murder and impovel
ishment, it would reduce the deaf,
rate, insure a longer and more eff ffi,ien
working life and provide for the burd
en- ol sickness and accident BY soci;
insurance or otherwise. 1t would re
build all unsanitary tsncments, clear
up the disease breeding cutters an
cesspool OF all creations. It woul
extend the railway and steamship line
into every dark corner Of the cart
and eliminate savagery. Fellow cit
zens, SO billio dollars would reliev
the scientists from economic struggl
and enable them to devote their Ell
tire time and efforts TO imp!ovin
manufactured products, making agr
culture more profitable, fighting d
ease and iur,hering useful inventor
Of all kinds. 1t would pension IF a
kings, hereditary mobiles and 9TH
endowed idlers and trouble maker
and give the Common people chanc
This sum OF money would free eve
slave in the world, mother every CrpI
an, care for every invalid and age
person and feed every starving hum;
being. But it is wasted! It is brin
ing starvation, death, misery and W,
to all the world aa it is now beiI
spent.
How cOl d his large sum Of mon
be spent in behalf Of a P rmane
Peace Lacquer Il wculd ,uqia