The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-29

STALE. she instantly replied. 1T has
reason to be; it has been waiting for
you for two years."
When before In all her history was
America ever tardy in her response
to the call to arms? Looking back
over the past months, we can see
that the psychological moment struck
when that sneak-thief of the deep
the hideous submarine--shot her as
sasin-like torpedo into the bosom of
the Lusitania. This was not only the
physiological moment. but also the
dramatic moment for a declaration
of war. We failed to declare war,
because:
i: We were not sure whether or
not 1t was our duty to do so.
2. There were those who we-e
unwilling to give up the pleasures Of
a peaceful prosperity
8: 1t was because America, know
ing that she aid not wish to make
war upon anyone, assumed in false
security that no other nation had
any such desire or intention, and for
this reason she was and remained
:unprepared. America missed her op-
pOrtunity as those who are not pre-
pared always miss every opportunity;
for no opportunities ever come to the
unprepared.
Through this unpreparedness Amer
lea missed another opportunity; for
there would have been no Lusitania
incident, for even Germany. crazed
with the madness of Prussianism,
would have recognized the fact that
in her path of unlawful aggression
stood America armed and invincible
saying in compelling tones Thus far
shalt thou go and no farther. She
missed also the opportunity of being
generous to friend and magnani-
nous to foe; for only the strong can
| be gracefully magnanimous.
Today America under the direction
of our peerless leader is rapidly
making amends for the past and the
arrogant Prussian will at no distant
| date be made to feel that his Kaiser
made a fearful biunder, when he
pronounced the military force OF
America to be contemplate.
Our greatest menace is the pres.
ence In America Of that loud mouth
ed disloyalty that has allied itself
with insidious treason, to block every
effort that patriotism is making fol-
the redemption Of the world from,
Prussian oppression and Teutonic
autocracy.
Why are we here today? What
means this array Of splendid man
hood-the flower of modern chivalry ?
What means It that 30 few eyes are
dry and so many hearts bowed down
with their weight of woe?
1t Is because America needs her
young men. It Is because she is
calling loudly for her sons to come
to her assistance. 1t is because she
realizes that the only thing that has
stood between America and Prussan
aggression and barbarism for the past
three years has been the French
army and the British navy, and Amer.
ira Is unwilling that these two ma
tions shall bleed to death while she
prospers under their protection. II
Is because she knows that her
daughters will suffer as the daughters
OF France and Belgium have suffered.
1t Is because she wishes to place
herself like a rock in the way of a
nation that since 1870 has success
fully blocked every movement in be-
half of universal peace and to say
to her: "You shall no longer intimi-
date the world. You shall no long,
er smash with your hammer of
might the anvil Of truth and right.
You shall no longer impress upon the
world the pernicious principles of
Prussianism."
America is calling you, young
gentlemen. to come to her assist
ance in the hour Of her great need.
Like the true men that you are, the
plucky Game Cocks" the true
hearted Carolinians. the loyal Amer
leans, you have sprung to arms to
answer the call
War is horrible; war is awful. I
would not say one word to minimize
its horror or its awfulness. But
there are some things worse than
war; there are some things worse
than death. The soldier Of the allied
forces goes Smilingly To his death ha