Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30

wasihi III; eye Of u democratic govern
bic French republic or stout little Swift
zcriand evcr has or ever will uso it's
military forces as an arm OF aggression
or opprcSSion? II was only the sons
Of france trained In tho military who
h nave, Sncceedcd in holding, back the
narnnrnna or Germany. and 10 which.
together with Britain'S navy, tho world
owes it's freedom.
IL may be that ut the end OF this
bio to the people. will be set up in
Germany God grant IT!
But where is japan with her AIikado,
whom every, Jap dciiics and would will,
I lnEly lay down his life for? Is she
not silently and rapidly building up a
c cru po@ sry yvs an% nay: and extending
! noticed by other nations. cncroachinr
! upon war-torn Russia. as tho oppor.
/ Nobody knows what the future may
nrinE forth Let us pray that from now
on our great republic. together with
! the other free nations OF the world, NAV
! be prepared at all times to protect tho
! PRINCIPLES which are dear TO us, that
noertF; justice; civilization. Christians
/ ity and the rights of all nations. great
and small. may be maintained. II must
i =" admitted by AZ that this can he
/
Tree nations OF the earth.
Nine months Of tho great war has
PASSED. and shame it II. America has
not yet begun to make her might felt
In this war for world freedom.
This tragedy should never como
all that Is noble and good.
Also. medical authorities and past
experience testify; that military train
OF our land. that it develops accuracv'
initiative. Judgment promptncss. exec
utiye ability. and discipline. besides
making better man physically
Americans, wake up. Tho bill should
he passed and p Pas O., at once, VIZ,
Dundas. Va. IeamSa!S e. p isi7.
Frame.
TO tho Editor Of Tho Times Dispatch:
Sir--In tho presence OF the ambas-
Sador OF France at :. public meeting.
ex-Presdent Roosevelt. in an adinirabie
and very attractive address. said, in
France embodies all OF lovelsnes,
ana al OF valor: Beauty Is her, hand
I and the shining courage OF her dauEh-
tcrs has matched the courage ot her
dauntiess sons. For three and half
terrible years she has walked high OF
heart through the valley of tho shadow
Tier body ~ In torture, but her fore
morning. Never in all history has
there been such stcadtast loyalty in
the doing OF dangerous duty. such de-
service and OF sacrifice. and rreat sbaIi
he her reward. For sho has saved tho
soul OF the world"
In this peroration. Mr.. Roosevelt has
spoken words of Justice righteousness
and truth. beautifully cmpha sized by
ornate oratory-a Veritablo literary
gem
Ere this world wide war had com.
rncnccd. We were taught and told that
the French were only frivolous fro
licking. iun- loving and pleasurc-pursu-
Ing people. always CONSPICUOUS Al
Cancc, az the sunday race track and
ardentir addicted TO the influence OF
ahStnthe. Ever and anon the pronigacy
or their imperial courts. as we'll as
their terrible revolution with Robe.
Spierre Marat and Danton in it's fore
front. were presented to us as very
tair representation and characteristic
o: all the French people.
\nH snanF acccpteh this portrayal
evidence and the expression OF tho
unss.n"h service OF Lafayette and his
ling response TO the Macedonian cry
OF the struggling colonies, as they
sramc over to their help in their very
dire distress. and that at Yorktown.
iheE witnessed the creation and COM
m.accmcnt OF tho life OF this republic
!" winch thcy had taken ii prominent
ana important part.
Now iha' this grim visagcd war has
G"ioid"d las awful front on the world.
n w. nyh% ID %noiner and ysTy different
Tor We sec them now face TO face
t en- s iIous. heroic fearless Amids.
loved land; amids, tho barbarous.
h"ar,less destruction of their splendid
temples erected TO music and TO art
amidst their destroyed homes and land
laid waste, they march and battle in
mairhiess spiendor across tho field OF
down ',or ever discouraged.
in the very agony OF this crisis which
cconfronts the world. with heads erect
nn Fslt
The Via Dolorosa." singing their Mar
scllaisc. proudly bearing aloft their
,r Id with tears for their dead
have served. sacrificed and suffered
with a loyalty. patriotism and hcroism
that has invoked the applause and adj
which Is dominated and tyrannizcd
over BY soullcss and heartlcss prus-
siarism.
~! this they did. and arc doing.
without complaint. without regrets and
without inurmur. To-day they arc
unfa!tciins in their faith and unmov-
81 in. their determination to win this
var for humanitys sake. cost what 1t
VIII or Mat IT may.
What then can be said OF tho dauEh.
tors OF France, or its splendid and de-
voted women? Many, very many books
could not contain adequately and well,
surcrinCa and service.
Ey acts words and deeds they have
attained tn. very heights Of exalted
''''''"' hc hdhiG anu tUS ldtnc Will
h. sung in song and told in story
through the coming centuries, OF the
women Of France. growing in greater
lustcr as the years speed by Speak
history. unfurl thy long annals and
say where on thy pages has there
ever been presented a more splendid
race OF men and women whose chival-
rous achievements have thrilled the
world. i know OF but one other in
these modern times at least. How
ever. rs an eN-Confedcrate soldier
shall omit the mention Of that one.
When this carnival OF death and de.
sttuciiCn shall be concluded. when vic
tory To the allies shall come-and come
IL must--whcu the true. unprcjudiccd.
unbiased and uncmbclishcd story OF
the trials and the triumphs. the hero
ism and the patriotism, the unsclhsh
devotion TO duty and 10 tho right OF
the sons and daughters OF France
shall be told. then beg that there
A.. cd z IL