Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-07-11

been my friends; among whom l have
grown from childhood to old age,
who have in the past honored me be-
yond my merits, and whose good opin-
ion and kindly regard I have ever
cherished. So now | am to speak to
you upon subjects which appeal to
your intelligence, call for action OF the
highest kind, and will test to the
depths of your being what sort OF a
person you are. l trust that l may
say something which will be remem-
bered for the good of our citizenship,
for the inspiration Of our young peo-
pie, for the development Of sound
character.
Three Glasses of Citizens.
In a gathering of this sort there
are possibly three classes of auditors
marked by their intellectual and NOR
al relationships to the war in which
our country is now engaged. l could
wish there was but one class. First,
there may be those who see in this
awful cataclism simply an opportunity
to gain financial profit; second those
who but lightly consider the crisis
through which we are passing and
persist in making pleasure their God;
to whom the auto and the movies are
more important than the results Of the
war; and last those who see and feel
the transcendant Importance of the
conflict and are anxious to know what
to do, how to do it, and are willing
to do their part
The first class are in essence trait
ors; it makes no difference how they
make their unholy gains, whether by
cornerng the market, taking advan-
tage OF the governments necessities,
unnecessarily storing foods or what
not, if they think of gain and only
gain for their own advantage there
should be melted out to them the pun
ishment of traitors. The second class
are entitled to warning, Of an appeal
to their better natures, if then they
fail to respond to the serious things
of life, to appreciate that the times
call for sacrifice and not pleasure,
then they merit solely the contempt
which sane people pass upon the i'm
biciles of the race. The third class
are they who are here today to gath
er inspiration, possibly new or wild
err view of the relationships of this
world conflict, by which they may
be able to do something for the cause
To that class l desire to address my
self for while.
Old World Is Rocking.
In order that we may comprehend
the meaning of this war it is necessary
that we should appreciate world con-
ditions. In my opinion there has new
err been time so deeply fundamental
in it's future Importance to the race
since the creation as is this. Other
times have born in their womb mo-
montnus events for portion OF the
earth's population; other times have
emphasized the necessity of certain
political or religious principles; 9TH
er times, as the revolution in France,
England and our own country, and
the religious reformation of the six
teenth century, have cleared the
ground here and there for the pro-
founder workings Of religious and po-
litical ideas and ideals; but never in
any or all of these has there been such
an elemental upheaval, such a pre-
monition of universal change as is
now APPARENT. We are living in the
foremost point of time and import
ance; we are spectators, yes, we are
actors in the mightiest drama that
has ever been staged upon this old
world, with the single exception of the
life and death of Jesus. AS actors we
are called upon to do righteously for
a mighty idea, and that along lines of
aspiration and intelligence; and upon
our honesty, our faith in the right,
our appreciation Of the rights of men
and women, our decision to battle un-
til victory is won depends whether
autocracy or democracy, privilege or
individual rights, shall be victorious
In this earth
Growth of Democracy.
Look at the world! A few years
ago Japan was a hermit nation; to-
day it is one Of the mightiest peoples
of civilization, seething with new ideas
and untrammelled by an overpow-
ering sense Of religious obligations.
Until recently China was an Orien-
tai giant asleep; today it is awaken
ing, and it's thinkers and leaders have
taken, whether wisely or not can not
now be said, republican ideas as
governmental agencies; it sees the
light, its face is toward the sunrise
of popular ideas. Russia was but
yesterday the sign-manual of particu-
laristic autocracy, without an idea that
the masses could or should be heard
in their own behalf. Divinity sat upon
the throne of the car, and the COM
mon man and woman were born to
serfdom as the sparks fly upward; to-
day Russia has seen the light and re-
nudiatinp Hfha divinity which doth