The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-11-10

Belgium and at the unspeakable
crimes committed against her women
and children, and her non.combalant
population by German soldiers, but
That can perhaps be accounted for, in
some measure, by the fact it was diff
ncult for the people to believe that
those stories were not manufactured
" at least co,ored. with snug self.
satisfaction with our own condition
that existed; with much good intent
and energy being expended by sin.
cere. earnest and honest, though mis-:
guided Paciflsts and with a wellor.
ganized. welLconcealed and well.fi.
RANGED German propaganda. 1t is not
strange that goodly lumber of people
In ali parts Of the country should have
felt we not only could but should have
stayed out OF the war. For those of us
who remain at home and who have
come knowledge of the real conditions
has fallen the task of trying to bring
all the people to a realization of the
conditions that confronted us then and
which now exist, as well as to point
the paths we ran tread in the line of
our respective duties.
1t IS lamentable that there are still
few people who do not understand
or who refuse to appreciate the condi-
tons and the necessities that confront
us, while it IS mole deplorable still
that there are some who are more or
less openly dislcyal to their country.
There has always been a few traitors,
few who have deserted in the hour
Of need. but rarely is great cause lost
tv desertion or treatchery. Such acts
go upon the records of time as Illus
!rotiors of perfidy by which future gem
eratioDs are warned and from which
they profit while ut the same time they
cause the patriotic acts of loyal souls
to stand out more conSpicuously.
But need not talk patriotism to you
men. If you did not possess 1t you
would not be here in training.
You were selected for this camp be.
cause of your physical fitness and your
intellectual and moral qualifications.
Your physique is settled, your intellect
secure, except as against extraordi.
nary conditions that have destroyed
mems minds IN the trenches of France,
bit your character will be put to the
supreme tes: in all probability. The
strain on the soldier in camp life, in
the stress and trials that confront MIN
in this the most horrible of all wars, is
greater than men were ever before
called upon to endure. The German
soldiers, and the officers, too. have
lapsed into brutality and bestiality
so shocking that one stckens at the
thought of it. 1t is an open secret that
our allies, France and England, have
rad to exert themselves to keep up the
morale of their soldiers and to help
The men keep themselves in hand.
All those trials, not only the trials
in the trenches and on the battle-felds.
but when off duty, will come to you. Do
not imagine they will be easy ones or
that temptations under such condi.
tons will be easy to resist as under nor.
nal conditions and most of us know
how hard is such resistance under the
most favorable circumstances.
Pardon me, beg you for reminding
YOU that unless you conquer yourselves.
you cannot conquer the Huns.
You will owe 1t to yourselves never
to forget for a moment that you are
american gentlemen, no matter how
savage the contest in which you may
engage. You will owe it to yourselves
and your families, the dear ones you
Will leave behind, but you also will
owe 1t to he fair name of your coun.
try, WHOSE dignity and honor you will.
go abroad to defend, and you will owe
1t TO the BOYS. and their kin at home,
whose training and whose direction
will fall to you.
OF your courage there is no question
and as to it there will be no apprehen.
sion. The records of your forefathers
throughout one hundred and fifty years
are sufficient guarantees as to the
gravery of the officers and the men