Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-26
CALL TO DUTY BY
GENERAL WILSON
Remarks Made by Wilmington's
Distinguished Veteran at Queen
Theatre Meeting.

General James II. Wilson, IN introduce
ing DR.. Alonzo Taylor at the patriotic
massmeeting at the Queen Theatre on
Sunday evening, SAID:
Friends and fellow citizens: This is
no ordinary occasion! We have come to-
gether this evening to hold the trst OF
q series of meetings here and throughout
the State to stir up the patriotism OF our
peorle. and to renew and deepen our
determination to do our full part IN the
worlds war, now in its fourth year In
western Europe 1t is in no sense n
partisan or n political meeting. For
tunately for our country, when great
emergencies arise, party lines are ior-
gotten, and our people without reference
To race. color or condition, arise and come
together in their might, for universal
liberty and eternal righteousness, which
are the essence of democracy.
''On April 16, 1861, when 1T was up
TO us to choose between the Union on one
side. as against slavery on the other
when party lines and party ties were
holding our own country In doubt and
uncertainty man of the PLAIN people,
called upon to take haIr-splltting posi-
ton in reference to the policy of our own
country, instead of doing so-declared IN
steutorian tones: 1T is no longer choice
between parties and party policies. Only
ono course is left us We will stand by
the flag of our country and appeal to the
God of battiesr The stand was taken, the
appeal was made and after years victory
peYched upon the National Banner
Peace was re-estabhshed. Our troops
were discharged, progress and prosperity
prevailed ss never before. -
Nov, not only ourselves, but ali
the civilized people of the world are up
against it, and causeless war is deiuging
The plains of Europe In innocent blood
''Of the $40 million of white people IN
the world. four-fifths of them are engaged
m the conflict or are suffering from its
consequences Between 20 and 80 million
soldiers arc trying to kill each other. Ten
million havc already lost their lives or
liberty and q great drive is now on the
end and outcome of which can be but
in1istinctly seen. Ii is too soon to speak
with absolute confidence of victory for
either side and vet the chances seem
favorable 10 us and TO our allies. We
have the most men. the most guns and
the most money In short, our resources
Of aIl sorts are greater than the kaiser S.
snd we should havc more conhdenoc IN
our superiority OF strength than fear OF
his ,prowess or that of his generals.
With ALL the success they claim for
the firrt DAYS of their drive towards the
seaocast they talk of peace rather than OF
victory. If they were confident you can
rest assured they would phrase It other
wise. They see that if even they reach the
sea coast and gam control OF its forts
from Ostend to Calores and Boulogne,
the English and American navies Will
still control the oceans and the commerce
of the world. while the process OF starva-
ton and exhaustion VIII so on TO q
finish.
when the end viii come no man can
say. When Grant began his final drlve
on March 2S, 1865. against Lee he had
no idea whatever that the surrender OF
Appomattox would take place on Apul 2.
or only eleven days later. This ad-
monishes Us that the end may come
suddenly and soon, though the condl-
tions are radically different, and the
chances are that peace may be long
delayed. Meanw hlle we must continue the
work OF preparation. We must do all we
can not only to help organize and main
tain our army, but to arouse and keep
alive the fires OF patriotism throughout
the land. 1t is for this reason that our
committee Is holding this meeting and
viii hold Others here and throughout the
State tall victory settles upon our ban
ners and peace comes TO abide with US "