The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-10
A MANDAN PROTEST.
Mandan, Feb. 10, 1917.
7. h,,r,o

Editor of Bismarck Tribune.
Dear Sir:
It is with sincere regret that not
ice that Berlin declares Wilson will
not secure support" in his policy that
Americans have an inalienable right
to traverse the high seas. I wonder
which one of the two the German gov
eminent heard from-Ferdinand
Leutz or P. d. Norton? The mouth
ings of these two statesmen are
enough to make the sgners Of the
Declaration of Independence turn
over in their graves, and we can al
most see the immortal Patrick Henry
turn toward the cravens with drawn
sword and flaming c0untenance as he
proclaims: 81 care not for you;
know the American people will al
ways stand where l stood in 1776.'
Leutz wants the Initiative and refer
endum" to tell him whether he should
be with the president or the kaiser.
We believe the kaiser would get one
vote at Hebron and probably another
at Hettinger.
In 1776 the colonies didn't ask for
the Initiative or referendum but
they did ask for a. just government
and they fought for IT, and they got
it and it is here, and it is here to
stay. Leutz thinks more of the ''ini-
tiative and referendum" now, than
he did when he was in the state sen.
ate and voted against it in 1913-but
the kaiser was not an issue then.
Thank God the great big and just
heart Of America needs no initiative
or referendum to tell it where it
should be or for whom it should be
at in veal or woe! It's every throb
will be for our honor, our homes and
"our affairs and our fires." ~
1t warns the heart Of true patriot
ism, not matter how old, to read the
splendid editorials in all the Repub
lican newspapers in the land. All
breathing pure, noble and steadfast
loyalty to our president.
1t was only the other day that I
read an editorial in the Bismarck Tri-
bune and the patriotism therein was
enough to swell with pride the heart
of any American.
Then when read the splendid and
true blue speech Of Judge Charles E.
Hughes, supporting the president
with all his big heart, | was half
sorry he was not elected.
But did you ever see a band of
train robbers stop and hold up train
and rob and kill the passengers?
Here is such a picture: The robbers
are at their horrible work of robbing
and killing, but here comes the sher-
IFS and smilitia boys who are about to
tstop the killing by arresting the rob-
bers Then Ferdinand steps in front
of the officers Of the law and says
"Wait, boys, don't arrest the robbers
until we first take vote and find out
from the initiative and referendum
whether or not murder and robbery
are crimes that men should be ar
rested for" .. ..,
True, no one is anxious for war, be-
cause we all know that war is ter
rible, but national dishonor is worse
than anything else to a just nation
ike ours This administration has
done all that mortal man could do to
keep us at peace with all the world
all that national honor would or
could permit. We made solemn
agreement in which Germany prom
ised and agreed our citizens should
have the right to traverse the high
seas in safety. Germany has now
broken that agreement and that prom
Use and now says Look out, I am go
ing to kill and destroy everybody and
everything in my path"
Even now we may hope that some
honorable way out of war may show
up, but if war must come we must
defend ourselves and the rights of
humanity the world over, and our
honor at all hazards, ana if the kaiser
must have war with us, we will let
him have it and then hold the 'ini-
tiative and referendum election af-
ter the funeral.
We are all Americans and the
American Eagle has never lost
feather and is not very much afraid
of king or kaiser.
"My country it's of thee, sing"
]. e. CAMPBELL.