The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-27
Loyalty to America is
Theme of Dr.. E. B. NelUcor1b

of the horrors, heart-broken at the
losses of life, and shall be tempted to
conclude some kind OF a premature
settlement Of inconclusive terms. We
cannot ofrard to make anything but
complete job of it. We have set our
hand to the pillow and must follow to
the very end OF the furrow. Do you
want to know when the war will end!
viii tell you, exactly. 1t will end
when, and not until, the Hun is thor
oughly, definitely and confessedly
licked to a finish. We cannot talk
peace until that time.
1t would be easy to make so
called peace today-on Germany's
terms, with Germany victorious die
tator. 1t would be easy to make
settlement on terms which would
seem to be in some sense a victory.
Germany might well afford. and per-
haps would be quite willing, to sur
render Belgium and France, with no
claim for indemnities or annexations;
might even be willing to give up
Alsace-Lorraine. II allowed to retain
the fruits of her warfare in the east
But that would not end the war. It
would simply be truce, allowing
Germany to recover herself and re-
build her army with all Russias mil
lions to draw on for men, and all the
resources of Russian and Rumania
to strengthen her in other respects.
And with Germany thus strengthened,
the rest Of the world could scarcely
hope to stand against her.
Truce Worthless.
\ And truce thus patched up would
be worth less than the paper which
would record it AS President Wilson
has said, there is no faith In Germany,
no keeping of treaties, no reliance to
be placed on plighted word. This was
evident long ago. 1t is confirmed by
her violation of the treaty with Rus
STA while the ink was still wet upon
= We must fight the thing through
to a complete victory. The Hun is at
heart a coward, and always a bully.
The only argument which he win
recognize is the argument OF superior
force. Anything less he considers q
confession of our weakness.
And do you speak to me OF the
doctrine of forgiveness, as found in
this Bible? do not read of any
forgiveness except on the basis OF
repentance. Has the Hun repented?
No. He has gloried in his shames
and crimes and unspeakable outrases.
Until he comes asking it, no forgive
ness can be granted.
The doctrine of turning the other
cheek?" / trust that I have grace
enough to follow this doctrine if l
am personally assailed. But when it
is little baby spitted on Huns
bayonet, shall l approve, and hand
along another baby? If 1t is little
child manned. shall smile and say.
you cut off only one hand; take the
other also? If it is a Red Cross
nurse killed by bombs as she min
listers to the sick and wounded, shall
i tell the beast to drop another
bomb. on another hospital? No. I
will not, nor am I required to do It
by any word of this Bible.
I do read here that when David
thought on the enemies Of the king
dom OF God he said, Il hate them
with a perfect hatred" and I follow
him as I think of the Hun.
l do read that "they that take the
sword shall perish by the sword"
and l know that Germany drew the
sword, not in self defense, but for
world conquest, glad that "the day"
so long waited had come. If there
could be any doubt of this. that
doubt has absolutely disappeared in
the light of the revelations of Lich-
nowsky, GermanyS representative at
the English court when the war be-
gan.
Penalty for Germany.
| do read that with what measure
We mete, it shall be measured to you
op ~, think Of what nnnnltv
Germany should bear, remembering
the nameless horrors which have
been laid upon the women of ravaged
Belgium and France, the starving OF
children, the killing of million
Armenians, the violation of Poland.
There are Huns here at home, al
most more dangerous to our welfare
and the successful waGng of the
war than those on the battle line.
There were "Copperheads' in the civ
il war period, striking secretly, silent
ly, venomously. There are Copper
Huns" today, and some of them are
here in Keokuk Count them en-
emies as really as those who kill our
men abroad. Treat them as social
outcasts. as business pariahs, as
Huns in spirit. whatever name they
bear. Report them to the govern
mental authorities for proper treat
ment.
On this day which speaks to us Of
the struggles of the past for our own
liberty and the redemption of the
world from tyranny, highly resolve
that you will be utterly loyal and
faithful.
In the dark days of the civil war,
Lincoln said, I'VE accepted this war
for worthy object-and the war
will end when that object is accomp-
lished. Under God, / hope it will
not be until that time"
May that spirit and hope and de-
termination be in every one of us.