Tombstone epitaph., 1918-06-09

eNtIy othti uoW Ahu Ahahco OsOAs other seem triyal and negligible. is the winning of the war. We are not only in the midst of the war; we are at the very peak and crisis of 1t. Hun dreds of thousands of our men, carry ing our hearts with them and our for tunes are in the field and ships are crowding faster and faster to the ports of France and England with regiment after regiment, thousand after thou sand, to join them until the enemy shall be beaten and brought to . reckoning with mankind.
 There can be no pause or intermis- sion. The great enterprise must on the contrary be pushed with greater and greater energy. The volume of our might must steadily and rapidly be augmented until there can be no question of resisting it. If that is to be accomplished. gentlemen. money must sustain 1t to the utmost.
 "Our financial program must no more be left in doubt or suffered to lag than our ordnance program or our ship program or our munitions pro- gram or our program for making mil lions of men ready. These others are not programs. indeed. but mere plans upon paper. unless there is to be an unQuestionable supply of money.
 That is the situation and it is the situation which creates the duty, no choice or preference of ours. There is only one way to meet that duty. We must meet it without selfishness or fear of consequence. Politics is ad- tourned.
 War Record to Be Best Indorsement.
 The elections will go to those who think least of it; to those who go to the constituencies without explanation or excuses, with plain record of duty faithfully and disinteres,edly per- formed
 T, for one, am always confident that the people Of this country will give jus, verdict upon the service of the men who act for them when the facts are such that no man can disguise or conceal them. There Is no danger of deceit now. An intense and pitiless light beats upon every man and every action in this tragic plot of war that is now upon the stage.
 If lobbyists hurry 10 Washington to attempt to turn what you do in the matter of taxation to their protection or advantage. the light will beat also upon them. There is abundant fuel for the light in the records of the treasury with regard to profits of ev- cry sort. The profiteering that cannot be got at by the restraints of con science and love of country can be got at by taxation. There is such profiteering now, and the information SS sc t1t Ia aA n. disputable.
 Il am advising you to act upon this matter of taxation now, gentlemen, not because I do not know that you can sss and interpret the facts anc the duty they impose just as well and with as clear a perception of the ob- legations involved as 1 can, but be- cause there is . certain solemn satis. faction in sharing with you the re responsibilities of such time. The world never stood in such case before Men never before had so clear or so moving a vision of duty. l know that you will begrudge the work to be done here by us no more than the men be Erudge us theirs who lie in the | trenches and sally forth to theii death. There is stimulating com radeship knitting us all together.
 And this task to which invite i your immediate consideration will be 1 performed under favorable influences 1 if we will look to what the country Is thinking and expecting and care noth i ing at all for what is being said and ! believed in the lobbies of Washington i hotels, where the atmosphere seems tC | make 1t possible to believe what is be lieved nowhere else.
 ' People Ready to Bear Burden 6ravely
 Have you not felt the spirit of the nation rise and its thought become single and common thought since ! these eyentful days came in which we ' have been sending our boys to the other side? think you must read that thought, as 1 do, to mean this that the people of this country are not only united in the resolute pur pose to win this war. but are ready and willing to bear any burden and undergo any sacrifice that 1t may b< necessary for them to bear in ordel to win 1t.
 We need not be afraid 10 tax then if we lay taxes Justly. They know that the war must be paid for and thai 1t is they who must pay for 1t. and I the burden is justly distributed ant the sacrifice made a common sacri flee from which none escape who car bear it at all. they will carry 1t cheer fully and with . sort of solemn pride ! have always been proud to be ar American, and was never more proud than now. when all that we have satt and all that we have foreseen abou our people is coming true.
 "The great days have come whef the only thing that they ask for ol admire Is duty. greatly and adequatel, done; when the only wish for Americs is that she may share the freedom she enjoys: when . great, compellini sympathy wells up in their hearts fol men everywhere who suffer and ars oppressed. and when they see at las' the high uses for which their wealth has been piled up and their mighty power accumulated and. counting neither blood nor treasure. now tha the final day of opportunity has come rejoice to spend and to be spen through a long night of suffering ana terror in order that they and mer everywhere may see the dawn of [ day of righteousness and justice ana peace
 Shall we grow weary when the, bid us act?"
 When he concluded his address th< President unexpectedly made a briei extemporaneous statement. in which