The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-04-04
AN ANNIV

One year ago on Saturday the Unit
ed States entered the great world war
in behalf CO the freedom of the uni
verse. Patient and long suffering IN
the face Of numerous insults and at
tacks by Germany in their attempt to
abase us in the eyes of the nations,
we stood it longer than an ordinary
red-blooded man would be ~peaceable
under such treatment. Then we took
a stand for the right as we saw 1t and
today we are in the very thick OF the
fight with our men lined up shoulder
to shoulder with the armies of the
Allies. Our preparation since that
day a year ago has been stupendous
and the record that we have made in
the time is greater than that of any
other nation in history. We have
done wonderful things. but there is
which seems to be for us to get into
the minds of the whole people the
idea that we are in this wal to a final
finish and that finish must be victory
for our contention. We must disabuse
our minds of all thought that some
thing Is going to happen that will
keep us out of the thickest of the fight
and from losing thousands of men.
We must realize that this is our war
as well and truly as it is the war of
France and England. These nations
are between us and the front, but just
as sure as they fail we will be the
next to feel the weight Of the mailed
fist of the tyrannic Teuton. When
a mad dog is loose on the streets the
brave man does not run and hide, but
rather takes his weapon in hand and
goes forth to rid the community OF n
pest and a danger. The same princi,
warrior nation is loose on the face of
the earth, the lust of the kill is drool-
ing from it's open jaws, eyes glazed
with the insanity of a muderous de-
sire look on it's enemies. its snarl of
wrath Is heard throughout civilization.
Is this the time to temperize, to de-
bate like a congress, and procrastin-
ate like a pacifist? No, 1t is the time
to act like a brave nation, to go forth
fully prepared and armed to rid the
community of nations of this awful
scourge. Farm, manufacture, plan
and do everything that will give us
the power to do our duty. Speed up
the work of the activities that will
support and equip our armies, forget
the small matter of difference Of
opinion, lay aside the question Of pol.
itics, and let the nation come togcth-
err as a unit for the fulfllment Of a
good purpose. A little less arrogance
In high places. less of the pessimis-
tic view expressed on the streets,
more OF the spirit of cheerful support.
these will all help us do what We have
to do for self protection. There never
was a time in the history Of the race
when faith in the good that liz in the
world, faith in the ultimate success
Of right and justice. would do more
to keep the public spirit up to the
lighting point. The morale of the ma.
ton must be sustained. as we'll as
the morale of the army. II we are
halfheartedly behind them, they will
only h~alf-heartedly fight and do their
work. We must get the notion of de-
feat out of our minds and settle down
to a long. hard fight, giving daily OF
our strength. our money and our heart
to keep up the end that the United
States has agreed to maintain. We
are in this war with only n possible
end for US, and that is victory for the
right We must not only do "out bit"
but ~ Z minister recently said in Z
large city, We must do u damn
! dest"