The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-04-13
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looking 0n aa outside witnesses has
now enveloped this Peaceful Country
Our President who has used every
means and method available has only
"a few days ago called the great as
sembIy OF the United States I'm joint
session to act in the declaration of
war The following day that joint body
voted the actual declaration OF war
against Germany.
We are now facing the actual exis-
tence of a war. Thanks to God this
war has been declared in the spring
OF the year and not in the fall. We
are Ira the ripening stage OF this coun-
try III II the beginning or the season
Of prOductiveness-
Ne must awaken ourselves to the
conditions that exist, not only think
of TIN present but look To the future
and particularly the coming winter
when this country might b. in the act
ual struggle Of arms when she will be
dependent upon her food supplies that
she has laid up during the summer to
carry her over the bleak and unpro-
ductive winter. This is not question
for US to bubble over. It is an abb
solute and actual existence of fact,
that we must lose no time in compre-
hending. 1t behooVes every patriotic
man to serve his country I'm a par
ticllarly earnest way. Some of NJ
will d. called on tO take the arms Or
actual warfare Ga the field oil battle;
others will be in the mnnitiOn plants
to produce the munition; others will
mobilize the supplies; and others will
10 called on to produce food stuffs ID
that our soldiers ON the battle line
may not suffer for necessary susten-
ance.
Patriotism is covered by all of these.
To every man who serves his country
in whatever place and position he may
be selected, to him is owed the honor
and respect OF his fellow citizens;
and to him who refuses to act must
bear the blunt and the scorn of us all.
We must not finch work; we must
avoid any talk against our country
and its management This III the time
to forget party lines, party aflliatfons.
This is IT, time likewise I'D forget
and forgive any enemies W. may have.
W. must Join our arms with one an
other 20 combat "a foe. There must ID
no descension, but there must be unity
OF action and unity or purpose
throughout.
The great end for which this coun-
try has entered this war is for the
Preservation of Peace, the Promotion
of National Happiness, and the Pro-
lection of the Rights of Equal Liberty,
having in no way sought to pecuniary
interests but only to uphold the dig
nifty whicL she has always stood for
and under which our Constitution has
been drawn; namely, equal rights To
All, with special privileges to none
and an absolute protection Or her
children.
This country ~ combination of
States, united as one, guided by aI
leader who has been chosen by the
majority OF them all That leader to-
day calls on every patriotic citizen to
aid him In shortening this great strug-
gle. This can be best accomplished
by a drastic blow We cannot say to
LET another take the
struggle up" but we must act as one.
Every Representative OF every State
In the United States assembled i'm
Congress has endorsed the President
and AZ IL up to us to give our endorse
ment by the only method by which W.
can render service and that is by an
absolute cooperation and sympathy
with the move.
Every one Of III has IA conscience to N
serve. If we do our duty ID We should
this time (stand Loyalty by the decis-
ion OF our President) we are doing
then service to our God, for He
commands us ever to respect, to hon
or and to love those in authority and
he is the chief OF them all.
"a sense of duty pursues us ever.
1t is omni-present like the deity. If
we take to ourselves the wings OF the
morning and fee to the utmost bounds
Of the sea, duty performed or duty
violated remains yet with u for our
comfort or for our sorrow. If W. say the
darkness shall cover w., in the dark
ness - in the light our obligations
remain yet with w.. we cannot e.
cape their power nor flee from their
presents. They are with u in this
life and will be with us at Its close
and In sense Of uncomfortable solem-
nifty which lies yet farther onward we
shall find ourselves surrounded by a
conscience of duty to pain US where
ever it has been violated and to con-
sole US so far as God may have given
us grace to perform it."
Written by Robert T, Shriver