The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-11-09


name and the true advantage of the
German people.
His Words Are Measured.
l measure my words. They are
borne out all too emphatically by the
hideous eloquence of deeds which have
have appalled, the conscience of the
civilized world. They are borne out
by numberless expressions, written
| and spoken, of German professors
employed by the state to teach its
youth.
The burden of that teaching is that
might makes right, and that the Ger
man nation has been chosen to exer-
else morally, mentally and actually
| the Overlordship OF the world and
must and will accomplish that task
and that destiny whatever the cost in
bloOdshed, misery and ruin.
The spirit Of that teaching lies in
its intolerance, its mixture OF sancti-
| moniOusness and covetousness, and
its self righteous assumption of a
world improving mission. 1t is close
ly akin I'd the spirit from which were
bred the wars of the past through the
long and dark years when feudal fac
tiOns killed one another and devast-
ated Europe.
| speak in sorrow. for | am speak
ing of the country of my origin, and
| have not forgotten what | owe to it
| speak in bitter disappointment,
for am thinking Of the Germany OF
former days, the Germany which has
contributed its full share to the store
OF the worlds imperishable assets,
| and which, in not few fields Of hui
| man endeavOr and achievement, held
the leading place among the nations
OF the earth.
Has Faith in German People.
And speak in the firm belief that.
| after its people shall have shaken If
spell which an evil fate has east upon
them, former Germany is bound to
arise again. and in due course of
| time will again deserve and attain the
good will and the high respect of
all those of German blood in foreign
lands.
But | know that neither Germany
nor this country, nor the rest Of the
| world, can return to happiness and
peace and fruitful labor until it
shall have been made manifest, bitter
ly and Enthusiastically manifest to the
| rulers who bear the blood guilt for
this wantOn war and their msinform-
ed and misguided peoples that the
spirit which enchaiDed it cannot pre-
vail, that the hateful doctrines and
methods in pursuance of which and
in compliance with which it is con-
Quoted are rejected with adherence
by the civilized world, and that the
overweening ambitions which it was
meant to serve can never be achieved.
Struggle Is Sacred.
The fight for civilizations which we
all fondlv believed had been won
many years ago must be fought over
again. In this sacred struggle it is
now our privilege to take no mean
part, and our glory to bring sacrl-
fees.
Our one and supreme Job, the one
purpose to which all others must give
way, is to bring this war to a success
full conclusion.
To accomplish this, let each one of
US feel himself personally response
BILE, let each one Of us work as if our
life depended on the result. And. 10
very real sense, does not our nation
al life and our individual life depend
on the outcome OF this war?
Would life be tolerable if the pow
er OF Prussi anism. run mad and mur-
derous, held the world by the throat.
if the primacy OF the earth belonged
to a govern ment stepped in the doc
trines OF barberous past and sup
ported by a ruling caste which preach
es the dedication of sheer might
which despises liberty, hates democ-
racy, and would destroy both if it
could?
Fight for Liberty Alone.
To that spirit and to those doctrines
we. citizens Of America, and servants,
as such. of humanity, will oppose our
solemn and unshakable resolution
% make the world safe for democ.
racy,' and we will say, with q clear
conscience. in the noble words which
more than 500 years ago we're uttered
by the Parliament of Scotland:
'sIt is not for glory or for riches or
for honor that we fight. but for Fiber.
ty alone, which no good man loses
but with his life
The Railroad Raiders.