Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-15
WIN-THE-WAR
fCnnfInilsd frn- Rann nnaA

would know. no doubt, twenty times
wounded, this man the last time FIVE
hundred yards behind the German
trenches. when they were occupied
by Germans. on his way now. back to
the front-has been home getting
weli--that much for the authority Of
the infornatou-this man said to me
in indianapolis that on a certain day,
naming the day, in a certain place.
! naming the place, in French territory
captured by the Germans and retaken
~ the French, he stopped at a
| French peasant woman's house to get
a drink of water as he marched by
He said that by looking at the woman
he could tell she had been in trouble,
and he said. Madam, the Huns have
. cen here" She said, Yes, do you
sec that spot on the floor" The
! captain said, Il stepped back and
saw the spot upon the floor. which
! knew was blood. which the poor
! wcm-n could not scour from the pine
| boards of her floor, with Their brush,
on her knees" | said. Yves. Madam.
ii is blood" She said Yes, that is
where a German soldier stamped the
:
What are we fighting for? We are
| fighting to make certain that this
! KIND Of business cannot longer go on
in God Almighty's world.
| And we will continue to fight, until
| Victorious American arms have for
ever ended the intolerable arrogance
! Of that scientifically trained brutality.
/ ". a n
! peace by victory and never a peace
/ by compromise bargaining.
|
What is sacrifice? What Is sacri-
| fee when things like this are at
! stake.
The President wrote declaration
! Of the war aims of this country.
think it is n Magma Charta for the
! freedom of the world, a magnificent,
wonderful instrument. Let us not
forget however, that between that
victory and this moment still stands
I the Prussian Army, the greatest mill
! tary establishment in the history of
! the world. That victory will be ours;
we will win the war; but it will not
win itself.
! There are still some SNUG individ-
uals in this country, who sit with
their hands folded and expect to wake
up some morning and find this war
over. Wrong, woefuliy, criminally
wrong. This war will not be won I'M
til the resources of this country in
men and material have been taxed to
the last possible atom. 1t may take
! five years. five millions Of men
and a hundred billions Of dollars.
We might just as well. as intelligent
men and women. prepare for just that
kind of q conflict This same Prus-
STA fought before for thirty years, and
| the man that does not recognize the
necessities, the dangers of the mo-
mont, is either ignorant of what is
| going on about him. or is wiifully
trying not to sec. We must make it
an individual matter. as to every ac-
ton, what will be the result and eff
feet on the sum total of the war good
| in this we do and that we do not do.
l plead that the first purpose of
every one he TO win the war and win
it now; to strive and to stand for
peace with victory only, not q peace
| by compromise bargaining of princi-
pies, and | urge wherever possible
that most careful attention be given
FOL the preparation now in a sane
manner for the great problems of
reconstruction The responsibility
which rests on men and women of the
Intelligence. substance and cha racter
of YOU is measured by the strength Of
those qualities in you
To win the war abroad. we must
have and will have absolute unity a,
home. First, we must have that rolit,-
cal unity which shows TO the world that
in this country there is one issue and
ono purpose to which all others are sub.
ordinated. and that is TO win the war.
There IL but ono side 70 the question
Of the war. and on that aide absolutely
supporting the countrys cause shall
stand every political party and every
member Of every political party entitled
10 any consideration whstsoever
Ihere VIII always he politics in this
country. We are a NATION of polj,ica!
parties. We sre fighting in France TO.
day to make certain that men shall for
ever bo1e the right to govern Them.
'''"f ''N'V AZ iIiIS country WNeF9
we nave that right we shall exercise
II now and always. This ia our duty
Inns privilege should be exercised IN
tcl4eentiy after full discussion and con
sldsration To do less ls to shirI, tha
supreme duty of a sovereign citizenshin
ana 10 squander worse than recklessyy
ihe richest heritage with which we mr..
endowed The war does not lessen. the
war accen'uates these responsibilities.
mere VIII always he political Contests
a 4a'r contest for political power ia no
less an antiseptic in war times than !,
pe"ee 'rnes. In fact. in war times we
fefuiFe even more tnan in peace time; |
'"e most careful scrutiny of the prin-
cipies and candidates which are to rule |
US mere must be no partisanship in |
q 'hihg that touches the war. This 10 |
VIZ war OF no political party: IL 10 the |
"s war. and hope and trust that |
uo'h poitical parties make certain that |
thelr candidates are men who arc &C.
premely pro-American. who will give
III O'unTv all TO the winning Of this |
war. l INSIST that there he no con,es,
y tnfs country as to ANYTHING tha,
''uches Inc war. between auv individ.
oals - between any political parties, J