The Lamar register., 1918-04-03
"CO ON OR
GO UNDER"
BY Ross L. Hammond

(Mr. Hammond wen = msmbsr et party
Of fourteen who went TO Europe IN oetS
this number ten were msmbsrs of Son
EIessi Tbs party were guests onmsnts oi tne ns,t
Much nn. STeneh oa ih .n6 , sen sa S.r. sssoed Sy
representatives of these Governments UP
and down the battle lines and were shown
mond Is publisher Of the Daily and Tri-
weekly Tribune of Fremont. Ssb.. and "
filling many public speaking engagements
At the present tme)
Premier Lloyd George never coined
. truer epigram than that we must
go on or go under"
How the war is going on" can be
understood, even In part, only by
those who have been near to it. which
privilege l recently had. That IT is
the most colossal tragedy in human
history Is proved by a glance at any
phase of it
Americas part in the struggle IL be
Ing performed because America can
not avoid 1t. Autocracy is running
amuck and we stand in It's road.
Either It stalks triumphant over all
that We have been taught to hold
sacred and dear or we and those with
US slay the dragon from whose red
jaws blood is dripping. We and 1t
cannot live in the world together.
have seen England. France and
Belgium battling with the beast Now
my own country Is sending its men
Into the fray and the effort and the
sacrifices that are being made abroad
will soon be witnessed here. We may
not see here the actual fighting. Let
us hope not. But We cannot escape
the other appalling features.
England is vindicating her trsdi-
tions and her ideals. She 10 not fight
ing for territorial expansion This
by no means as vital or essential to
her as Is proof OF the binding nature
of her compacts. The preservation
OF Belgian neutrality drew her into
the struggle For this her soldiers
are battling and her great navy Is
steamed up ready for the master
stroke; for this her women are work
ing in field and factory and are pour
ing out their merciful ministrations
In innumerable hospitals-
France IL making the great sacri-
flee. Paris. which sets the styles for
the world, Is wearing black a. . sym
boil OF sorrow, and the world II adopt
ing It. for all the world 10 mourning.
But Paris and France. though In tsars.
are not without hope. They are look
ing eagerly forward to victory. whom
the invading Huns are driven from
French soil and the lost provinces Of
Alsace and Lorraine will be restored
to their rightful owners. The coming
OF the American troops has given
them new courage With unexamplsd
bravery they are holding the line unr
I'll the strength OF America can be
hurled against the foe. The republic
stili echoes with the Wild acclaim
given to General Pershins and his ex-
peditionary force. II will be mighty
task for the United States To measure
up to French expectations.
Riding as / recently did up and
down the whole battle front In France
and Flanders. saw much Of the sur
fering France has heroically endured.
Her ruined cities and town. hsr Dc.
vastated territory. her dead soldiers.
her outraged women. her tortured
children. all cry out for vengeance.
Every reported atroctty Of tho Ger
man army il true. and very much
more. got much evidence from eye
witnesses OF unspeakable barbsritiss
All the waters of the seven seas can
never wash away the fou! stains.
In Belgium. at a reception given BY
King Albert, asked Ambassador
Brand whitlock what word could be
tsken back to the people Of America
He said: 1T is difficult to put II In
q word. but this is to be said Of the
Germans they disrsgard every senu-
ment of honor and integrity. every
thing we hold sacred and dear. They
have violated with utter impunity
every agreement l have ever made
with them" The conclusion from
this and flood OF other like tssti-
mony is that I'VE must 20 on or go
under" No compromise or settlement
with the HohenIollerns viii be more
than "a scrap Of paper The United
States has one supreme duty At this
hour. That is to furnish the money
and the man power to defeat the arch
enemy of liberty and of the peace Of
tha world