The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-26
FACING TIL; CRISIS.
Farmers Have Great RESPONSIBILITIES
Resting Upon Them and Must Do
Their Duty.
Editor Daily Item:

40 Pii''S"' VIC uiScOVef the fact that
we have difficulties and troubles
ahead which demand, on our part.
many sacrifices, should we overcome
and eliminate them. We are now up
against the greatest calamity the
world has ever seen. Racial rivalry
ana national ambition have precipitat-
ed many wars and conflicts; but moth
ing in comparison with what we are
facing today. The dominating prin-
clple OF Prussianism is prevailing
among the enemies of civilization and
democracy and will until it is crushed
ana dethroned; and to do that, it will.
yet require strenuous efforts on the
part of the allied nations of the world
Germany and her allies are not van
quished yet, and with her efficient or
ganiZations, politically, economically
socially and from a military stand
point, we may as we'll realize the
stubborn fact, that there is somethint
more than the ordinary ahead of us
altogether, the greater reason why VIZ
should make preparation while the
opportunity is OPEN
Our people may as we'll recognize
that sacrifices and great sacrifices are
to be made if we triumph in this
great struggle. We ali should taxi
lessons from our government in noi
having been prepared when this grea.
emergency arose and assiduously
prepared ourselves 10 meet the sit.
uation as it progressively presents it
self.
We must prepare to aid and assis;
our government I'm this great under
taking ii we should see her come ou
victorious This government is of tn,
people ana for the people and should
the people withhold their sympath,
and mutual aid. we may reasonably
| expect to see her suffer defeat tC
some extent
our young men are going to the
front. Offering their lives and thei
all for the sake of democracy am
civilization, and we who are immuned
from that order by age or otherwise
must stand back OF them with on,
sympathy, encouragement and mater
ial assistance, that we may stimulat,
their morale, and give an impetus tC
their efforts, that will crown them
with glory and fill our hearts with E
gratitude that is impressible. We
are and will be under obligations to
them, l fear we will never be able to
meet.
We have the greatest country in the
world, a great big democracy, in which
we have lived mparatively at peace
with all other nations for fifty wears:
commercial people accumulat ting
| wealth and luXuries. dreaming OF
greater financial exploits in the future.
with hopes of maintaining that friend
ly relationship which we have en-
Joye3 in the past. In so doing we
havk neglected our machinery of nat.
ional defense until aroused by the
alarm of war, TO find ourselves al.
most totally unprepared TO take up
the challenge. Ancient Greece lost
her prestige in the same way. and
the pity of it is, we have not learned
lesson from her experience.
Washington advocated preparation
Tor war in time of peace; universal
military training and etc, and should
his advice have been needed and
brought down through our history, we
would have been in more advanced
stage or readiness to meet the struG-
gle that is now staring us in the
face. Just as our government mus:
prepare to meet these calamities. so
must the people as whole, in their
different departments get ready to
meet them. The time is now at hanl
when the agricuiturist must exercise
all of his mental capacity in planning
planting and cultivating, so as to meet
his obligation in this great crisis. HI
too is part of this government and
he must remember that he shares the
blessings Of lis institutions and ad
vantages and on the other hand must
be willing and patriotic enough to
stand by her in her adversities and
menaces. The motto of every patriotic
citizen should be: our country. RIGHT O,
wrong our country. Let us all adop,
that expression from the depths of oul
hearts and work with might and main
to stand by her interest by contribut-
!hg TO her support as she needs it,
Now, il is hoped that every white
farmer in the country will not only