Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-20

against Nations. All the means
used to weaken an enemy nation
becomes legitimate. By killing
women and children, for example.
one destroys the future mother
and eventful defenders OF the
Country"
This is the law OF the Savage. but
il is the program Germany has been
carrying out in Europe. We are
fighting this very propaganda, and we
must proceed with the supreme pur-
pose to bring all the resources of thi
Istruction and desolation and put an
Nation against this monster e" de-
end for all time to the accursc pir-
it which with malice conceived ?nd
ldelfberation brought about the pleat
catastrophe which has imposed so
much misery and sorrow and ruin
upon the world This is a con.esl
between civilization and savagery. We
stand for the principles that the world
must be nominated by the spirit of
justice and mercy and not by the spir-
it of iniquity and oppression. On the
othe rhand, Germany recognizes moth
ing but power. and relies solely upon
might With power we must meet
her, and with might we must fight
her, until she is brought to the reali-
cation that the power of right is great
er than the mere power Of might; that
free people are mightier than slaves,
and that they can construct for them
selves and maintain through the trial
of war a free Government of right
mercy and justice, able to defend an
autocracy of terror and frightfulness
This is the only way to win Victory
and peace and bring Germany to rec
ognize the rules of law and right
Justice and mercy have no place in
Germany's regime, which would sub
stitute power for justice and the re-
ligion of might for the religion of the
Nazarent. The struggle is stern and
costly, but the cause is great and
worthy We must subdue this mill
tary autocracy that goes forth con-
quering and to conquer Military des-
potism must be driven from the earth,
or there will be no lasting peace.
On the battlefield of France is now
being fought the greatest battle in the
history of the human race More than
seven hundred thousand Americans
are there, and in a short time, we
shall have million men on the bat
tie field and another million to fol-
low. They are engageG in conflict
which involves all the strength, cour-
age and heroism of American Man
hood. We are proud of that army and
we have perfect confidence that it will
bring Pruissian Miltarism to it's
knees. At the head of that gallant
army is a son of Missouri, General
John j. Pershing, who was born in
that State and is now bringing honor
to it by his ability and genius on the
battlefield.
A few days ago in Washington, I
called on Rear Admiral Leigh C.
Palmer, of the United States Navy,
who was born in Missouri, and who
has charge Of the personnel of the
Navy, which has increased from fifty
six thousand just before the war to
three hundred and fifty-six, thousand
today, with a corresponding increase
of ships from one hundred and six to
over seventeen hundred.
Another distinguished son of Mis-
souri, who is rendering important
service inthe war is Major General
EnOch r. Crowder, who as provost
Marshal General, is in charge of the
executions of the Selective Service
Act under which ten million men were
registered for army service, and from
which registration our soldiers are
now being selected.
No man who lives in this State can
fail to have special pride in the dis
tinguished men who were born here
and who are now performing CON
sDicious service in this great conflict
1t is great influence of American
honor to participate in high official
positions in these great war activi-
ties. But the greater privilege that
can be enjoyed by any man in this
country is to be an American soldier,
and to fight, and, If need be, died for
that Government that has brought the
greatest blessing to mankind ever en-
ioyed by any nation on the face OF
the earth. The American soldier oc-
cupies the most conspicuous and i'm
portant position in the world today.
The eye of the civilized nations are