Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-04-25
SECOND PRIZE ESSAY
WON BY MISS LINDELL
Contest Conducted in This State by
Connecticut State Historical
Society.

Ellen Lindell, a teacher in the local
school, won second prize of $40 in the
recent contest conducted by the State
Historical Society.
If you had been told prior to August
1914, that the German Government
would disregard its solemn treaties
and send its armies ipto Belgium,
would wantonly burn Louvain, would
murder defenseless people, would
extort ransoms from conquered cities,
would carry away men and women
into slavery, would destroy come of
history's most cherished monuments
and would with malicious purpose lay
waste the fairest fields of France and
Belgium, you would have denied the
the possibility. The Germans, lovers
of art and learning, would never per
nit such foul deeds To day, the I'M
believable has happened, all these
crimes have been committed and under
official orders.
The object of this war is 70 deliver
the free people of the world from the
menace and tho actual power of a vast
military establishment, controlled by
an irresponsible government, which
planned to dominate the world and, in
CARVING out it's plan, violated the
sacred obligations of treaty and the
long established practices and long
cherished principles of international
action and h1rCr.
On the last day of January, 1917
Count Bernstorff handed to Mr.. Lam
sing a note III which his government
announced its purpose to intensity and
render more ruthless its submarine
warfare against which our Govern
ment had prntes ed. We were also in
formed that the German Government
had not employed the ruthless policy
before, simply because it had not been
ready Therefore. under the guise of
friendship and the cloak of false
promises, ii hrd been preparing this
attack. This was the direct challenge.
There WAS 10 other answer possible
but IN hand thoir ambassador bis pass
ports.
1t is plain enough how we were
forced into the war The insults of the
a! German Government left us no self
) respectiug, choice but to take up arms
IN defense of our rights as free
e people and OF cur honor as a sovel eigu
government The military masters OF
= ,ierm any denied us the right to be
RENTAL They filed our uIsuspectine
t communities with spies and tried tt
n ..ngiupI lite opinion of our people in
q, sncr own b2malf When they found
that t',ey Coz, I'd not do that. they hat
E 4z|W's spread sedition amongst us
| 8 81.
. :0nueured with the official embassy o.
T. me German Government at our owl
v capitol They have tried, by violence
In destroy our industries and hindei
. oar commerce. They tried to incit,
4 Mex; 81 against MS and to draw japan
2 into hostile alliance against us. This
+ rights u the high seas was denied III
and they executed their threat to sent
v to their death our citizens who dareC
= go uat On the Atlantic. Much al
S wanted peace, it was denied us, and
@ not Of our own choice.
1 We are not the enemies of the Ger
a man people. In fact we are fighting
h for their good. The whole world is al
/ war because the whole world is in the
( "Trip of the power Of the German Gov.
D eminent and is trying out the greal
battle which stall determine whether
it is to be brought under its mastery or
fling itself free
T..is is a peoples war, a war for
freedom and Justice and sell. govern
{ ment amongst all the nations of the
world, a war 10 make the world safe
for hose who live upon il. 1t is for us
To hnIV h. NIsx Oh - A.
force and help set the world free.
2 America has come TO realize that the
J triumph OF Germans arms means tie
death of liberty in the world. Let us
fight for liberty now when the free
democracips at the world NAV be
strong IN union and not delay until
they mag BE- beaten down separately
in succession. Let US be glad to fight
fer the ultimate peace Of the world
anil fnr the liberation of its peoples,
the German people included; for the
rights of ne tions, great and small, and
the privilege of men everywhere TO
choose their way of life and obedience
Gar ends are not selfish for we want
20 c)Tq est, no dominion, no indem-
nities--He are the champions of rhe
rights of mankind.
Ar rica will never enlist in any
rause that is not worthy one. She
has never fo2Eht except for freedom.
In 1716 We |"rnt 10 war with Great
Britain 70 achieve our independence.
In 1912 we fonght to secure the free
dom of the sea a right so essential to
Americas Independence and national
sec Tity. s" vital 70 her prosperity as
PEOPLE, thaa We coCld never surrender
| it This right IS now being challenged.
y the military despot of Europe. To
! lie safe, to v;udicste the rules of h1-
man,ty and International law, we
] .nrct Hnht In, Gel r,-n nuni,