The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-05-24
A Proclamation by the President.
Registration Day June 5th.
these applications.
Nation Must Arm.

Nation Must Arm.
me power against which we are ar
.aayeu mas sought to impose it's will upon
tne world by force. To this end it has
engaged armament until it has changed
Iie iace OF war. In the sense in which
we nave been wont to think of armies
,,i 1Mere are no armies in this STRUGGLE.
mere are entire nations armed Thus.
the men who remain to till the soil and
man the factories are no less part of the
army That is to aid France than the men
peneath the battle flags. 1t must be so
Win us. 1t is not an army that we must
/ shape and train for war; it is a nation, To
thls end our people must draw close in one
compact front against a common foe.
nut TINS cannot be if each man pursues a
private purpose. All must pursue one
purpose. The nation needs all men; but
IL needs each man, not in the field that
VIII most please him, but in the endea yor
u, tnat will best serve the common good.
mus, though sharpshooter pleases to
operate triphammer for the forging of
great guns and an expert machinist de-
slIes TO march with the flag, the nation is
belng served only when the sharpshooter
marches and the machinist remains at his
levers The whole nation must be team
In which each man shall play the part for
which he is best fitted To this end Con-
gress has provided that the nation shall
De organized for war by selection and that
each man shall be classified for service in
the place to which it shall best serve the
general good to call him
All Must Serve.
he significance of this cannot be over
stated. 1t is a new thing in our history
ana a landmark in our progress. 1t is a
new manner of accepting and vitalizing
our duty to give ourselves with Thoughtful
devotion to the common purpose of all
IL is IN no sense conscription of the un-
willing; it is rather selection from nation
which has volunteered in mass. 1t is no
more choosing of those who shall serve
an equally necessary and devoted purpose
IN the industries that lie behind the battle
line, upon which all shall present them
selves for assignment to their tasks. 1t
IS for that reason destined to be remem-
Dered as one of the most conspicuous mo-
ments IN our history. 1t is nothing less
than the day upon which the manhood Of
the country shall step forward in one
solid rank in defense of the ideals to which
tins nation consecrated. 1t is important
to those ideals no less than to the pride
OF this generation in manifesting its de-
votlon to them that there be no gaps IN
the ranks.
1T is essential that the day be approach
ed IN thoughtful apprehension of its
significance and that we accord to it the
honor and the meaning that it deserves
Our industrial need prescribes that it be
not made technical holiday, but the stern
sacrifice that is before u.s. urges that it be
carried in all our hearts great day of pa
tlotlc devotion and obligation when the
duty shall lie upon everyman, whether he
is himself to be registered or not to see
that the name of every male person of the
designated age is written on these lists of
honor.
'In witness hereof | have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this
18th day of May in the year of Our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and seventeen
and of the independence of the United
States of America the one hundred and
forty five
''By the President,
'ROBERT LANSING,
'Secretary of State"