Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-01-03
THE THINGS MOST NEEDED

| Germany is losing the war because
she has failed in spiritual generosity
and understanding. Her material pre-.
paration was more complete than the
world had ever seen before; her men
were trained; her supplies of ammu--
milton were almost inconceivable in
amount. 1t is said that Germany
took Belgium with her 100000
900 rifle cartridges. Her artillery
included great secret supplies of II
inch howitzers. whose destructive
power was without parallel. She
struck in her own time and her own
way. From the military side moth
ing was lacking and nothing was left
undone. Why did this marvellous pre-
paredness fail? Because spiritually
Germany is blind.
Germany is losing the war because
of the failure of her governing mill
tary class in spiritual generosity and
Observation-Disclosures they cannot
see any point of view but their own.
Living, working. fighting solely for
their own advantage, they cannot un-
derstand that any other people can
be guided by principle, loyalty or
any generous impulse. They believed
that England would not fight for Bel
GUM; but she did. They believed
that Ireland would not keep faith
with England; but she did. They
believed that British India and South
Africa would hasten to revolt.
The German military class did not
believe that the United States would
respond to the call of duty and hon
or. Omitting nothing that would
promote their own advantage, cast
ing aside the obligation of treaties,
and the rights of men, they counted
without the righteous indignation
which their lawlessness called forth.
In this great crisis of the history
Of the world. is America blind also.
or do we see clearly, as Germany
does not, the spiritual values Of the
world war? Is this issue clear be-
fore US? And when we see it, shall
we concentrate or scatter? Does
Uncle Sam carry shotgun or rifle?
Are we, when all that we stand for
Is at stake, to see clearly a single
goal ahead, perhaps very far ahead,
and go straight to 1t with the single
minded directness of the rife; or,
seeing a dozen objects, are we to
start in pursuit of all of them, as the
Russian people are doing today? A
shotgun kills small game nearby;
rifle kills big game far off. Will
the people of the United States see
the single great object for which
this war is being waged-liberty
throughout the world-or shall We
scatter our forces, like the Russians.
pursuing smaller objects nearby, and
so take the chance of never reaching
the great though distant goal. which
alone gives a value and meaning to
all the rest?
The greatest factor in this war to-
day is not a material factor at all.
1t is neither the submarines of the
Germans, nor the French and Brit
ish artillery on the western front. nor
the food supplies Of America. which
are so necessary in winnig the war.
The greatest factor in this war Is the
state of mind of the American people.
If the soul of America is aroused all
the rest will follow. But il the peo-
pie of the United States are half
hearted in the war, then nothing else
can make good the loss. Unless the
soul of America is set on victory of
righteousness and civilization, Meth
err armies. nor guns, nor food will
avail.
To-day in the great war. Americas
contribution must be first contri
button of spirit, and second a coll
tribution of food. Only IL these two
are made together will our contribu-
ton of fighting power help our allies
to win the war.
There is nothing truer than this.
that If the war is not ended by force
of arms in France next summer, it
will be decided by the failure or sue
ces sof the American farmer to sup
ply food to the men who are fighting
and dying for our cause in France.
The farmer feeds us all, and Jus"
means not merely ourselves, but our
allies as we'll. l am certain that the
farmer will not fail America, unless
the spirit of the nation should fail to
support the farmer. II it should fail
the people should be Indifferent to
the tremendous issue. then either we
should lose this war or we should
still be fighting 1t, at heaven knows
what cost in blood and treasure,
years from now. l don't believe that
the spirit of the American people will
fail; but / do know that the first
call upon us in this great crisis, the
greatest crisis of all history, is for
a united soul and will behind our
cause, and next to that, the call for
food.-Gifford Pinchot.