The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-11-02
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Jimmie and a Serman Hsy Clash
Must Do Three Thinss to saSs'
Country.
Number Five


Dan went out to a lawA seat uHder the
spreading branches Of the great tree
that suggested the farm's psme Of Oak
Hill. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
ing for hi@, so UHoe Dan was cap.
tured by the boys on short order. q
"Say, Uncle Dan," Billie began. I'VE
had red.hot argument at schoel yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
that German schools were mites ahead
OF our schools and that re one c8Bld
come up to the educstes German. Well,
Jimmie got hot under the cellar and
handed 1t hack to him good and plenty.
Jimmie said II their education taught
them to torpedo Lusltanlas, sink hos
pltal shiys. murder hundreds OF w5Ba.
en- and children, mnke slaves of
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all ssrts Of CrlMes,
then we did not waRt that kind Of
education here. What dc you think
about II, Uncle Dan? 'teld Jimmie
sou spent lot Of tirae In Europe ahH
knew all about schools, SO give US your
opinion" t,,.r g -
"well," replied Uncle Dan, dehber-
ately, "the German schools are very
thorough they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical Instruction. The
industrial training given there is prob
ably the hest to be found. The schools
as whole, however, In my 'oplnlsh,
appeal to the head only, and never to
the heart. The 'aira and tread Is to
make the Individual bliRdiy snbEals,,
sive to the Prassian plan Of world de-
minion; they teach that 1t is the .des'
tiny or Germany to rule- the world, and
that to the glory and advance of Ger,
many, In this plan. all things raust give
way; that the kaiser as head Of the
state, can do nc wrong II ne carries
forward the plan Of wsrld o0ntrsI.
Some Of the greatest teachers ana
preachers even defend and justify her
heartless crushing ef BeiglaRs and the
many other atrociOus crimes she has
committed In this war. Thsak God,
our AmericuH edaeation reaches both
the head and the heart. IT Is an edit
cation with n soHl, and We mHst maiR-
tain the high ideals We have hIes. In
word, in Germany. the people are
taught that they exist fer the gevers-
ment, while here the geverAMeAt ex-
lists to serve the people"
"Just wait miHute." interrhpted
Billie. Say that over again slowly, 80
/ can write 1t down" t' a..
Uncle Dan, sHflisEly, csnaphea.
Billie exclaimed: NOW, we will hand
that nut ont for Carl ts crack.
Carl, you know. csntinaeA Billie,
has a very smart father wAs keeps
him posted on the German argpm ents.
Carl said onr government was osly
nm experiment anyway that II world
not last twenty years. and that II
might burst up any cid hne. Jimmie
asked him IL Germany was 40 nAighty
good, why they did not 80 back there
to live" ..,. 81. t'.,.
sour government Will 60 On forever,
won't 1t. Uncle Dan" #i'
"Now," said Uncle Dan, lyon are
raising big question. and oHe that
has troubled me for years, Our g6E-
ernment Is still in the experts, eatal
stage; In fact, It is the greatest ex-
pertinent ever undertaken. aad II pop
unr government Is to be successful. A
few things must be dsne. otherwise, to
paraphrase the great Lincoln, the gov
crnment 0f the people, by the people
ind for the people. will perish. II Ia
my firm conviction" said Uncle Dan,
in very impressive manner, that II
our country Is to 90 on, as we hope
and pray, we must very quickly do
Mt least three things. and will name
them in the order Of importance as 1t
appears to me:
"First, adopt compulsory universal
military training OF all young men
physically At before they reach the
age Of twenty years.
Next, require that every foreigner
reasonable time, say year, declare
his intention OF becoming an Anerlcpn n
citizen and take the necessary steps to
do 80, thereby. from that moment as
suming all the obligations Of citizen
ship OF our couatry, and that means he
must defend our flag upoR eausi terms
with our native born, and II he Is not
willing to do this. he should be sent
back from whence he came"
.'That's the stun" exclaimed Billie
"And, finally, enact such legislation
as will make voting compulsory. Pop
ular government Ia based upon the
participation Of ali and the rule OF
the majority. and democracy cannot
continue and be successful unless we
live mp to the spirit Of the institu-
tlon.
"The first step, however, IL the pass
ing Of the Chamberlain bill for univer-
sal military training. II you will get
the leading citizen. and especially the
editor Of your paper, to write personal
letters to your congressman and both
senators, urging their support, 1t Will
help enormously.
III see by the morning papers" said
Uncle Dan, "that the Rotary clubs Of
the entire country, the liyest, most effi'
cient organization TO he found. havs
unanimously decided to get back Of
the Chamberlain bill and give II loyal