The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1917-12-22
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number FIpe
Jimmie and German Boy Clash
Must Do Three Things to Save
Country.
Number Fine

spreading branches of the great tree
that suggested the farms name of Oak
Hill. Billie and Jimmie had been lay.
Ing for him, so Uncle Dan was cap
tured by the boys on short order.
"Say, Uncle Dan," Billie began. eve
had a red-hot argument at school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
that German schools were miles ahead
of our schools and that no one could
come up to the educated German. Well,
Jimmie got hot under the collar and
handed 1t back to him good and plenty.
Jimmie said if their education taught
them to torpedo Lusitanias, sink hos
pital ships, murder hundreds of wom-
en- and children, make slaves Of
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all sorts of crimes,
then we did not want that kind Of
education here. What do you think
about 1t. Uncle Dan? ! told Jimmie
you spent lot of time in Europe and
knew oil about schools, so give us your
opinion"
SWELL" replied Uncle Dan, deliber-
ately, "the German schools are very
thorough; they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
Industrial training given there Is prob
ably the best to be found. The schools
as q whole. however, in my opinion,
appeal to the head only. and never to
the heart. The aim and trend is to
make the individual blindly submits
sive to the Prussian plan of world do
minlon; they teach that it is the des-
tiny of Germany to rule the world, and
that to the glory and advance of Ger
many, In this plan, all things must give
way; that the kaiser as head of the
state, can do no wrong if he carries
forward the plan of world control.
Some of the greatest teachers and
preachers even defend and justify her
heartless crushing Of Belgians and the
many other atrocious crimes she has
committed in this war. Thank God,
our American education reaches both
the head and the heart. It Is an edu-
cation with q soul, and we must main
tain the high ideals we have fixed. In
a word, In Germany, the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
ment, while here the government ex-
lists to serve the people,"
"Just wait a minute" interrupted
Billie. Say that over again slowly, so
can write it down."
Uncle Dan, smilingly, complied.
Billie exclaimed Nov, we will hand |
that nut ont for Carl to crack.
Carl, you know" continued Billie.
''has very smart father who keeps !
him posted on the German arguments. |
Carl said our government was only |
On experiment anyway; that it would
not last twenty years, and that it |
might burst up any old time. Jimmie
asked him II Germany was so mighty
good, why they did not go back there
to I've"
"Our government will 60 on forever,
won't it, Uncle DAMP
SNOW" said Uncle Dan. "you are
raising big question, and one that
has troubled me for years. Our gov
eminent is still in the experimental
stage; In fact, 1t Is the greatest ex-
pertinent ever undertaken, and If pop
ular government Is to be successful,
few things must be done, otherwise, to
paraphrase the great Lincoln, the gov
eminent Of the people, by the people
and for the people, will perish. 1t is
my firm conviction" said Uncle Dan, |.
in very Impressive manner, 'that IL
our country is to go on, as we hope
and pray, we must very quickly do
at least three things, and / will name
them in the order of Importance as 1t
appears to me:
FIRST, adopt compulsory universal
training OF all young men
physically fit before they reach the
nge Of twenty years.
"Next, require that every foreigner
who comes here to live must, within a
time, say a year, declare
his Intention of becoming an American |
citizen and take the necessary steps to
10 so, thereby, from that moment, as
Stunning oil the obligations of citizen
ship of our country, and that means he
must defend our flag upon equal terms
with our native born. and If he is not
willing to do this, sbe should be sent
back from whence he came"
"That's the stuff" exclaimed Billie.
"And, finally, enact such legislation
IS will make voting compulsory. Pop
liar government Is based upon the
of all and the rule of
he majority, and democracy cannot
continue and be successful unless we
i've up to the spirit Of the institu-
ion.
"The first step. however, is the pass
ne Of the Chamberlain bill for uniyer-
al military training. If you will get
he leading citizen, and especially the
ditor Of your paper, to write personal
alters to your congressman and both
enators. urging their support, it will
clip enormously.