Evening star., 1918-08-04

VI WaT ana enters on a u1ln.
How many more years will
the human race be called on
to suffer this agony? God
only knows. But II it be not impious
for mortal man to dare interpret
the DEGREES Of the Almighty. / do now
most solemnly say that. although this
carnival of woe may be permitted by
Providence to scourge. us for months
or years yet to come. 1t cannot cease
till Germany Is beayen to her knees.
And why do dare in the same breath
proclaim that the Issue rests in the
hands Of the Lord Of Hosts and yet
that I am convinced in my very soul
that the only outcome can be Gar
many's defeat?
This 10 my answer: II believed 9TH
wise I would cease to be q Christian.
II admitted the possibility Of Prus-
sian victory would never again be-
heve that He who gave US the Sermon
on the Mount died on the Cross Of CAL
vary for mans redemption. would
know. perforce. and 90 sorrowful to
my grave with the knowledge, that
Might is moro potent than Right. that
the ethics which brought France, Bri-
tain, italy. America and even poor. torn
which led Belgium to risk and lose all,
ranged twenty other nations on our
side, were nothing more nor less than
foolish. even grotesaue blunders. Yet
laugh to scorn the notion that 1
- a
no-not till Milton's reincarnated self
declares him a disciple OF Lucifer. not
till Shakespeare rises from his grave
and SCOTS at the beautiful England
he loved SO well. not till Lincoln's
Gettysburg speech is proved sham
and fraud. Some miracles do hap
pen. but not such miracles as these.
I have lost everything 1 valued in the
world. walk hand in hand with
tribulation. but there is a great joy
in my heart that comes to my aid
even In those dreadful watches OF the
night. when memories of the dead
drive almost to frenzy those who
loved them and still live. because
is fighting for the righr-and not my
own dear land alone. but her kith
and kin in every cline where the
English tongue Is the speech Of the
people. We have dared all: We shall
gain all
X
So. II you have read into this
preface the meaning have striven
to convey. you will understand that
In the remainder Of this brief essay
shall tell of the glory and the inn
mensity Of Britain's achievements in
this war, not to faunt her deeds in
the eyes of the world. but as an
earnest assertion Of the self-same
sacrifices and ideals that shall flow
from this great nation of the west
in an ever-increasing and Irresistible
stream. That is my purpose and
want to declare 1t now. Britain has
done much, and. though weary and
blood-stained. will do more, but the
measure of her heroic effort can sure
ly be applied to the determination Of
the splendid country In which 1 write
these lines. Why. to mix with you
seems bad. when some disaster at sea
or some reverse on land chills the
blood and adds a fresh burden to
an overhden heart. Is the best Of
all tonics for an Englishman. have
gone out to address audiences Of an
evening when my soul wxs heavy
within me. when each mouthful of
food in well appointed club or hotel
had almost -caoked me by contrast
with the -privatious better men than
I were enduring with steadfastness.
But the first sight of an American
audience, the first ringing cheers
evoked, not by my oratory, but my
theme. brought q healing and q
strengthening altogether divine in
their efficacy. for here. indeed, in the
truest sense Of the phrase, the voice
of the people became the voice of God.
You see how ! wander from my sub
feet. How can help 1t? To tell of
Britaih's part in the war I must deal
in dry figures. and my pen runs OF of
Its own accord into q paean Of thank
fuiness that America ia with us in
this struggle until by the paths of
vaior and death we shall have won
q complete and lasting victory over
our common enemy. Still. this - q
sad IL glorious anniversary, and II Il
In the very nature of things that ON
such an occasion We should count
RainB and losses, strike balance
sheet, SO to, speak. try not to humbug
ourselves with fictitious figures. nudge
BY accountant statistics and NOT al
low the wish to be father to tho
thought - -,
Iet us begin with the worst, the ir-
.remediable. the tax levied by death