The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-10-04
ForcefuI Appeal for War Issues by Secretary Lane

ships. we allowed each people to deter
mine for itself what its own internal
policy should be. 1t was not for us to |
say that the form of government which |
best pleased us should be adopted by |
others. but it was for us to say that.
notwithstanding we were a democracy,
Notwithstanding our isolated position.
removed from the world of European
and Asiatic struggle, we must be treat
cd with full national hOnorS and
rights. The first condition of that
brotherhood was that each member of
it should regard his given word as a
recognition and fraternity. Upon en-
tering into this war Germany violated
that pledge by the invasion of Belgi-
UNI. She tore her treaty up and gave
notice to the world that her war neces
sites were superior to her national
word. That was Il shock to the con-
science of every people. But we stood
nuetral because we did not realize then
as we did later that this act was but
an evidence of policy which must
sooner or later affect rights in which
we were vitality interested. We saw
the German army march to within
fifty miles Of Paris, until Marshal Jof-
fire. stood on the Marine and said, This
has gone far enough We made no
protest at the invasion of the country
which had followed our lead into dem
ocracy Then Germany turned to the
seas. She sank our boats loaded with
American grain, and we contented our
selves with a protest. She sunk the
Lusit;inia carrying American civilians.
We protested that the seas belonged to
us as much as to her; that for a
thousand years the lieys of civilians
had been regarded as sacred. even
though Oh an enemy ship. And 10
| apology came. One after another our
ships went down and the ships of other
neutral nations. Lives by the hundred
were lest. She promised that she
would respect our rights, but after a
time when she had become ready to
carry on in more ruthless fashion her
predatory war upon the seas we found
that this promise was as worthless to
us as her promise to Belgium had been
to her. Then by the power vested i'll
it by the Constitution Congress de-
clared that war had been made upon
us and accepted the challenge that
Germany had thrown down. We We're
nc longer to he regarded as a nation
of towards who would not enforce rec
Oglliticn of what all nations had con-
ceded to he our rights. There is no
appeal from that decision. 1t is idle
to-day to argue as to the cause Of the
concern. 1t is equally idle to argue
that we should not have entered the
war. We have made our decision and
we are going forward. We know that
we are right. Our consciences would
have convicted us of cowardice if we
; had longer withheld the assertion OF
, our power
, But this war has grown away from
, any invasion of our rights. 1t is to-da.
il contest between the principle of ell
pire and the principles of democracy
: a contest between the few who believe
5 in government by the soldier and the
5 many who believe in government by
5 the people. 1t is contest between
5 those who believe that men are made
to serve the government and these whit
2 believe that government is made tt
' serve the PEOPLE. 1t is a contest be
n | fhocn 1x-ho hoIiovn that tl,o mn.
e pose of government is to make itsel
rich by extending its Gcuadarie.
). through the use of force and those VIII,
y believe tue purpose of government i
+ to insure to it's people life liberty ain
e tie pursuit Of happiness. Two system
+ arc i'll conflict here. The one has COM
o down to us from Cesar. 1t believe
o III mastery, in fear. in power. TIL
Il other is the cutgrowth of Il Christian
y civilization. 1t believes that 10 on
t man or set Of men have been create,
It by Gcd to master all men
WHY WORLD is AGAINST GERMANY.
Why is this world against Germany
= When we find Il man in our comnu
:, = nifty against whom every mans ham
= is turned we say to ourselves tia
y there must be some reason for this
" The man himself says, " 1t is envy Il
= my prosperity" Germany says 81
= That is her explanation of the wal
. But all of us know of, our own expert
ence that there is one reason tina
y leads to the universal community col
deInnation CT an individual: He doe
: not play the game of life as we thin
: it should be played. And SO it is wit
Germany. She does not know that til
= time of empires and of emperors
past She does not know that the d;l
:. of arbitrary might has gone by. Sh
- will not play the Twentieth Centur
- game under Twentieth Century rule
She asks for friendship hut she di
Eoncrs her friends by asking them
he &c things which they should not d,
Il There was no country more willing
IN remain neutral than the Argentine r.
Is public. Yet Germany's minister ash
T. the Swedish minister to convey mess;
80 .eS to Germany which outline polio
II cf ruthlesSness upon the sea- again.
is that republic that offends the sensibil
le ties of mankind. You say to me til;
ID Germany was not hostile to the Unite
IL States. How can any such statemel
- be made In the face of the Mmmerna
note in which Germany. while we we,