Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-25
Better Late Than Never.

Mayor William Hale Thompson, of Chicago, evil
IDENTIFY has embraced that comforting creed, while
the lamp holds out to burn the vilest sinner may
return" He, of all opponents of the Nations war
policies has been most bumptiously brazen. In a
time when most men covet honor, he has courted
notoriety. Trucking to unregenerate hpyhensm,
he swaggeringly described Chicago al 1.-The sixth
largest German city" He scowled upon the pros
pect OF General Joffre and the French mission Wis
iting that municipality. He did his utmost to pre-
vent the sale of Liberty bonds in the City Hail. He
encouraged the pro-German Peoples Council in
its plans to hold a seditious pow-wow in Chicago
although the Governor of Illinois had forbidden the
meeting. If there ever was, in matters of Amer
icanism, a subject for the mourner's bench it
William Hale Thompson.
But you tell whom the spirit may
move. After all his snarling and bowling against
the Governments war measures, he now issues
proclamation, upon the departure Of Chicago Sc
lectmen for the training camp, in which he declares
it the duty of all citizens Ito stand by country
in times controversy with any other country and
to show in an unmistakable way that the American
people stand behind the army and the navy which
represent the majesty of our Government"
Therefore, I, William Hale Thompson,
mayor of Chicago, call upon our citizens to
show to our soldiers and sailors who are leav-
ing for the front that heart, our hopes,
prayers go with them and will abide with
them in their camps, the fields and on the
sea- where their deeds shall shed further lustre
on the flag of freedom; and, in the name OF
our two and half million people, united in
common love for the blessings of our free gov
eminent and with assurance of our fondest
hopes for the success Of arms in any con-
hict in which they may engage, bid our sol
diers and sailors Godspeed."
We do not know to just what circumstances or
influences Mayor Thompsons reversal of attitude
is due. But we do know that he has set saga
cious and seasonabe example to all persons of his
kind Assume virtue If you have it not" Is
rather cynical doctrine, especially where loyalty
is concerned; and eeventh-hour patriotism is not
particularly lustrous. Nevertheless, belated re-
pentance, even though induced by purely selfish
interests or forced by the lash Of public opinion, is
better than at all; at least, 1t will prove better
for the individual concerned. For the American
who obdurately stands out against his country in
this time of world stress and danger will be known
and marked ever afterwards a recreant to the
Hottest which his people ever pledged their
fortunes and their lives. He will be marked as
Tory He Will be branded with q name that the
years can efface death itself quite cancel
1t is not to be wondered that Mayor Thomp-
son seeks to shuttle of his pro-Germansm before
It altogether too late to bring forth fruits meet
for repentance" Indeed, it will be surprising if
the great majority of those who have opposed the
Governments policies do not fall into line
that thousands of soldier boys are embattled
in France and hundreds of thousands of our youth
eagerly training to follow. Whatever excuses
pretexs there may have been for obstructive tactics
and anti-Government utterances no longer are ten
able The question now is not only one of standing
behind the President but also of standing behind
our troops who at the front and behind those
who are preparing to go. Whatever may have been
cne's attitude toward the principle of Selective
Service he cannot refuse wholehearted support to
the gallant boys who are enlisted under that prn-
chile to uphold the nations honor and right. The
hour for honorable differences has passed. Hence
forward every American who loves his country and
prizes the good opinion Of his fellows will be found
unreservedly supporting the nations cause and the
nations leaders.