Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-05-18
4 PATRIOTIC LETTER.

p9gsHqud se.A Isast suIuonog sqL
in the Capital News OF last Sunday.
It was written hy the son Of Mr..
TTouteilotte, a leading architect and
citizen OF Boise. It is so fun Of true
patriotism. religion and affection Tor
MS father that it is reproduced here as
a genuine cIaasic-
DEAR DAD. In the lie Of every
fellow I suppose there are periods in
which he is undecided and does not
know where 10 turn on one hand
there IS the prospect Of immediate ad-
vancernent b. foul means. or an opp0r-
tunity 20 unfairly raise himself at the
expense Of somebody else. he is be-
tween the miiIstones Of personal salts
faction as contrasted to that satis fac
ton Of doing right, seldshness as op-
posed to that OF sacrifice his chance 10
legally escape as contrasted to his
duty. wat should he dO2
In my case. ! would turn TO my old
religion. t is expressed by a few
simple beliefs believe there is a
God 1 believe in the divinity OF Christ
I believe that every man should do
unto his neighbors as ne xould have
done unto him7-a homely rendition Of
the Golden Rule. laid down By Christ
To this creed 1 would add the beliefs
that I have assfmilated living as I do
in this our United States-that every I
man IS equal. and entitled 70 q share
in the government Further I would ?
be guided by the common dictates Of (
humanity All these I believe Christ .
would include in his ideal religion (
I Finally I would add that I am nay 4
brothers keeper" Do you disagree I
with any Of the above? They are my
beliefs.
War With Germany.
/ Following them as q guide. I cannot 4
see where We as a nation are doing .
I wrong, in making war on Germany. I
! Following them I cannot see why I 4
I should not respond TO The call Of my 4
/ country. Following them it is absO- 4
I lutely impossible for me TO do other
wise than offer my best service 10 my 4
I country Following them it IS impossi-
[ bIe for me 70 work as a draugltsman.
I unskilied as I would be. when I can
use my services much better as an .
j engineer or as an officer. Following
I them I cannot see where my family has
any right TO say TO me that it IS my +
dusy 10 seIlnsh1y stay at home so that
they can enjoy my society when other
I fellows are sacrificing their lives 10
make this enjoyment possible Follow
I ing them I cannot live in the ages to
come with clear conscience, enjoying
I the advantages reaped by the sacrifice
( Of others. without equally offering my
I self for a sacrifice.
He IS Grateful.
{ The United States has been mighty
nice 20 me- II has given NE advan-
tages that are practically impossible to
get in other nations When she IS
fighting TO uphold the principles that
make these advantages possible, should
I lay back2 II every man lay back and
let George do it. Just where would our
United States eud2
You do not think that the Uaited
States should have g0ne 70 war do
That IS perhaps the reason that I read
your letters so slowly. trying 10 get
your point Of view, and not trying 90
accuse you Of being a Stacker or
traitor. These are strong words but
superficial reading Of your letters
would certainly give one that impress
sion However I. believe that finally
I have arrived at somewhat your view
point You are somewhat a cross he
tween q fond father and u fighter II
surely set some remarkable contradtc-
tions. wish that we could talk to-
-ether might explain my views lnora
correctly
suAee IL to say that I am at present
talzfn- the examinations for second
lieutenant in the coast artillery corps
Of the regular army am not a naval ,
draughrsuan- They are giving
course here 70 the mechanical ami
electrical engineers that VIII 1T them
10 be such .irslughtsmen after q To-
weeks course It would be q practical
impossibility for me 20 take the course
I haven't had the preliminary trstinlls
for that. What they want is naval
draughtsmen. not just ordinary drl1- &
ghtsmen I have thoroughly looked
into and investigated this proposition.
even before yours Of recent date
As diversion. one OF our alumni /,
Just came in now. he has had charge
OF Red Cross unit in Serbia. captured )
by the alliance. kept in Vienna and /.
Berlin for about year, was released
and is now home. trying to get commits i
sion in the regular arH.y 70 hght- He q
saws it IS his duty to defend his cOun- Q
try's standard.
WIN Take Chances
AS far as the actual ngntlnS IS con Y
cerned. 1 am willing TO take my cllslH- 3
ces. II seems 10 me that I am giving 2
up just about as much as my family 5
I konw that they have raised me but
Z have my life to live without eonceit a
I have a good career ahead OF me n
know. I have a girl that want 70 h
marry Everything is ahead OF me- 1
But I believe that | can do no better g
thing than to sacrifice myself :
Don't believe that 1 viii be the .
only one. Conscription viii surely &
come and all these siackerS VIII have
to come through. I would rather be z
an officer of my own free viii than
a private BY force. But that is not
the prime motive as I have said
above. for me taking these exams 7
hope yeu try to see my viewpoint