The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1918-02-28
Judge Sease's Charge to Jurors.


MIR Foreman and Gentlemen:
Of course in the minds of all of US
and in the minds of all patriotic cit
liens in the great struggle now 60
ing on for democracy-what prog
ress we are now making in the way
of man power-there are very few
of us that realize the seriousness OF
this struggle and what it means If
we lose and what it means If the
world will win. Thank God we shall
win but it's going to require the
performance of duty and undertak-
ing of harGships we had not dreamed
of. am not a pessimist, but 1t Will
take very nearly every man OF the
American nation to make the world
safe for democracy. When the order
went out for ten heatless Mondays
there were those who howled and
kicked and criticised but, gentlemen,
that was only drop in the bucket
of what we shall have to endure IN
the next two or three years, for the
war is going to last that long. 1t is
we'll for US to make up our minds to
sacrifice. and endure the hardships
we must undergo. and not talk of
the high prices of things or what
they will reach.
1t is the duty of every man. If ne
speaks of this war at all, to realize
its extent and the fact that it is a
righteous war and so talk it. Any
man who criticises the Righteousness
of this war and claims it is unright-
eous is a traitor, because he is aiding
the enemy. If there ever was a
righteous cause this is one, because
it is in self.defense and in defense of
principles that our forefathers
fought for over a hundred years ago
to establish a free democratic coun.
try. There are now seventeen kings
in exile. which is apparently the
handwriting on the wall, and it oc-
ours that men should never be SUBJ
iect to other men to their detriment
and downfall. But in order to win
the glorious victory. not only for
America but for the entire world.
this nation must sacrifice.
We must read our history anew,
read of the three or four great lead
ers that turned the tide against
Great Britain over 140 years ago.
Marion and Sumter-think of the
hardships that they and other men
went through with fighting for your
own country-your own beloved
State. Think of Washington and his
men at Valley Forge. The fight then
and there was a struggle between
autocracy and kings on the one hand
and a free people and manhood on
the other. 1t has been 140 years or
so ago, which seems a long time, but
it was day in the history OF the
world-in the history of peoples.
Republican and democratic forms
of government are still on trial. 1t
has been 140 years ago since the first
great step was taken toward the lib
GRAFTON of the peoples of the world.
and what is 140 years to thousands
and thousands of years? / say, gen.
tlemen, our minds must necessarily
run, our work must necessarily turn,
to the great struggle. The man who
dares criticism against therighteous.
ness of this cause is nearing the
point where he is a traitor to his
country. The time will come, and is
already here now, when people who
have been nourished and fed and
made wealthy in this beloved land of
liberty who are in favor of the ene-
my will be considered traitors and
should be put in front of shooting
squad. The boys need the encourage
ment Of the statesman to show them
that this is righteous war and they
are fighting for a noble cause, and
lead them to believe such, otherwise
we can't expect to win them on the
part of patriotism.