The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-10-25
FhnIIERS WILL BACK
the LIBERTY LOAN
Secretary Houston Shows Why
They Will Do All in
Their Power. -
--ss~-- .s7*s
He Will Help Produce Food and
Aid Soldiers to Achieve
--' Victory. -, -
BY b. F. HOUSTON
Secretary Of Agriculture

II IS every clllZeH $ uuLy 70 purH
chase a Liberty Bond if he is in a
position to do SO. Every patriot will
regard it as a privilege to participate
in the Liberty Loan. He will thereby
contribute directly and effectively to
the successful prosecution OF the war
which Germany has forced upon us.
The nations task is a serious one.
1t Intimately touches each of us. 1t
faces you and me. If we do not win
this war we must prepare ourselves
for grave changes in our institutions
and to lead a different sort of life
from that which we had planned to
Eve-front that which our sorefathers
died to give us the right to live We
shall indefinitely face the interference
OF the Prussian autocracy or bear
permanently the intolerable burdens
of militarism
10 win this war we must have both
men and money. I know that every
farmer wants to do all in his power
for the nation in this day of trial. He
Will not only labor to produce the
necessary foodstuffs but will also gen.
erously contribute Of his means to
make 1t possible for the men at the
front to achieve victory.
l am confident that the farmers OF
the land will not permit any other
class to take the leadership in sup
porting the government in this crisis,
financially or otherwise.
We are at war with Germany be-
cause Germany made war upon us,
sank cur ships. killed our citizens,
and plotted against us while profess
sing friendship We were patient
TILL ofenses became so fragrant and
insults so intolerable that 1T was
merely question whether we would
admit we were no longer free ma
ton Or accept the challenge of the
war-mad, hypocritical and medieval
Prussian r1ilitarists. There was one
choice we could not make-we were
incapable OF making. We could not
choose the path of submission and
suffer the most sacred rights Of cur
nation and our people to be ignored
and violated"
We are defending our rights as
free nation. We are resolved that
there shall be an end of brute force
In international affairs. What Ger
many's victory would mean to the
world Is plain. There would be no
right except might, no peace save at
the price OF humiHations too bitter to
be borne. Small nations could not
exist.
There would be no sanctity to a
pledge, no solemnity to a covenant.
With the dominance of Prussian mill
tarism, the Anglo Saxon struggle for
Tree institutions and liberty. persist
Ing from Runnymede to Yorktown,
with its Magma Charta, its Bill of
Rights, and its Declaration of Inde-
pendence, will have been in vain.
It Is to prevent this, to defend our
rights, and to make possible an or
derby and just peace in the world
that we are at war.
The nation calls on Its citizens for
high and noble service. On some it
calls for service In the field on 9TH
ers for service at home; on all, 1t
calls for financial support. l am con-
fdent that the farmers of the nation
will eagerly respond to the call for
subscriptions to the Liberty Loan.
In spite Of the advonce in wages
and the price Of everything he buys
that is, after allowing for the shrunk-
en- dollar the farmer has made good
money In the last two years, and has
a larger bank account than ever be-
fore. 1t has been estimated that his
balance is greater than the entire
Liberty Loan.
Now new call comes to the Amer
lean farmer. 1t is the call to support
his country with his money as we'll
as with his crops. To this call he will
respond as nobly as to the other.
The farmers boy has now Joined
the colors, and the nation calls on his
father to help equip, train and support
him while he lights for his country.
The better we do this the safer 1t will
be for the boy and the sooner peace
will come.
The ten million farmers of America
produce more than one third OF the
wealth of the country. They can cas-
lily take one-third Of this loan. II
every farmer will take one hundred
dollars in the three billion, the thing
Is done. II steps are taken to bring