Oxford eagle., 1918-01-17

preston In speech or action. Il is
that u devoted father or faithful hus-
band could turn against his own
home. do not believe that | have
a friend who ever felt the impulse Of
disloyalty TO his government, and !
know that ! could not be the friend
Of any man or woman who Is capable
OF harboriLg such an unholy thought.
Tht re are ilen In Mississippi who
may have doubted the wisdom of en-
ieTing into this war--and they have
q right to that opinion-but there is
not one of them who is my friend who
will fail to do his duty by the gov
erpment since we have entered into
the war.
IL Is quite true that Ii has become
necessary for congress to vest the
chief executive with autocratic pow
ers In order that this war may be con
Quoted to a successful end. but while
your representatives In congress have
clothed the president with that au-
thority. to be exercised for only a
short time, let US hope. and for a
definite purpose. it does not follow,
and II is not fact. that you-the pri-
vate citizen - have abdicated the
throne upon which the constitution Of
the United States places you az the
sovereign ruler OF this republic. Do
not forget my friends, that eternal
vigilance is the price Of Ilberty-more
In times like the present than any
other-and that your undertaking II.
deiity to the constitution 10 absolute
Iy essential TO the preservation OF free
government.
wish to congratulate you upon the
material prosperity which you are
now enjoying. The first moments OF
war usually bring material prosperity
The billions OF dollars that have been
appropriated have filled the channels
OF commerce. and the excessive de-
mand for the products Of your toll
has scattered money over the land
like the falling leaves Of the forest.
Prosperity always follows such a con-
dition. But after a while the day OF
settlement-the time will come when
these promises in the form Of the
money OF the realm or In bonds must
be redeemed, and they can be re-
deemed only by the things which you
produce When the hour Of redemp-
tion arrives much OF the money that
heretofore has been devoted to the
education OF your children, to provide
the comforts OF your home and all
those things that make life worth liv-
ing must be diverted to the payment
CT the nations debts.
That is inevitable. and you had bet
ter prepare for it, The larger part OF
the expenses Of this war will be put
upon the man OF moderate meane-.
the load will rest upon the back Of
the toilers. The congress at the last
session refused &c taks.s-.n c5.s-nalf
OF thss excess OF war profIts-money
coined Of the blood and tears Of sol.
oiers and the women and children
70 pay the war debts. The immense
fortunes that have been made out OF
the war have been placed beyond the
reach of the tss-gatherer. and the bur
den that they should bear will be
transferred TO you. The load will be
heavy, and ] therefore would impress
upon you the importance OF economy.
Sa-e the surplus money you made
during the last year Indulge. II nee
essary. in a little judicious patching,
and In your investments stay close 20
the shore.
This is no time for speculation. and
just as sure as there 10 a God In
heaven the little surplus you have &C
Quired VIII be required OF you in a
very short time. The magnitude OF
the obligation which this government
has assumed is shown In an editorial
published In the Washington Post OF
December %. 1917. give a pa.
of It.:
Standing upon the threshold of
Christmas and contemplating the ter
rible slaughter that for more than
three years has afflicted humanity.
the message OF Peace on earth. TO men
good will is drowned by the tumult
OF battle.
More than 10000. 900 human lives
have been sacrificed In this horrible
cataclysm Al Verdun alone the Ger
mans lost 100000.
AT the present rate the war is cost
ing 376.000.O00 a day.
IF II should continue for three
years longer. II will have cost $1,000
Oo0,00o,0Oo. representing all the
wealth that has been created in the
past z,OOO years.
This stupendous cost will place
an average tax upon every person in
the world OF $50 annually for a pe-
riod OF 100 years. Since the average
surplus earnings OF an individual are
S52 per year. this would result in wip-
Ing out practically all surplus.
The population OF about one-third
OF the globe Is involved in this war.
which means that the cost imposed
upon those people would be $3.50 per
year for a century, or $50 per year
for 800 years.
Viewed in the light OF these facts.
this conflict assumes the proportions
OF war OF determination. The world
cannot survive ii much longer. II
must stop from sheer exhaustion II
reason cannot be brought to bear
upon II effectively"
These facts are appalling - thew