Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1918-07-13
A NEW DECLARATION OF INDEPEN-
DENCE

INT grip VI present. GFGllOS upOl Tic StltCil-
ton of the individual is such as to obscure The
future in general and all individual futures in
particular; and it is perhaps this fact which
has lead to certain pessimistic attitude evil
dent in some as to the possibility of any good
which might come from the war. Without in
tentionally inclining towards the optimistic side
and ignoring the danger of CLOSING facts IN
such frame of mind we cannot but believe
that the war is destined to yield rich and rare
benefits not only to this country but to the
civilized world in general. Issues have been
drawn in such a way as to emphasize the fact
that the Allied effort is directed to erase from
the face of the earth militarism as embodied in
the German ruler and rulers and, in broader
sense, to establish freedom, political and econo-
mic for all peoples. All of which is perfectly
and gloriously true. These detectives are not to
be lost sight of for minute in these times of
stress and strain.
But these same developments of the past four
years, and more particularly of the past year,
are beginning to have and will continue to have
with an increasing reality. an effect upon Amer
lean manhood and wonlanhood which nothing
short of the present conditions could ever have
effected The possibility is speculation-provok-
ing.
Turning from a peaceful pursuit upon provo
cation which tested the nations morality and
ethics rather than it's sense@ef economic fair
ness to a struggle which is demanding every
day more and more of our very life and its
physical interests; turning from occupations
which yielded high measure of financial re-
turn and, it ought also TO be admitted, tended
-, 10 ,1Ia IN na-
tional business which is in essence altruistic
and supported not for the material gain it will
yield but because the nation could not permit
decency and civilization to be challenged with
out coming to their defense; calling from pri
vate enterprises men of gigantic intellectual
and executive capacity, to say nothing OF the
formidable military power which the situation
has erected, to step forward and without per
sona ambition take willingly part of the re
sponsibility for the conduct Of the nation
business; these things, we do not for one mo
rnent doubt, win prove leaven in the nationa
'ife, the real results of whose working will no
~ evident until the war is finished and thes
men return to their former communities.
The interesting speculation is: What effec
win this contact with national business thi
participation in an endeavor which is entirel,
free of narrow and partisan and short-sighte
limitations, have upon their activities whel
they are again in peaceful pursuits? In worc
we believe their return will mark the renaissanc
of interest on the part of honest citizens an
capable leaders in home probems-in politics
in civic economics, in philanthropic undertake
ings, in every institution which has as its pun
pose the betterment of community conditions
We cannot but believe that these men and VIC
men who are, so to speak, today upon 9Th
mount of vision" will not allow the memory c
their inspiration to die without having it leav
some impress upon those people with whol
they are accustomed to associate. The war
drawing from those shells of seclusion and sell
interest thousands of men and women toda
who have always held aloof, partly through
feeling of backwardness towards everythir
which partook of a public nature, and partl
through an incapacty to feel any communit
or public responsibility, from public affair.
and one effect of such aloofness has been /
allow the control Of matters and interests e
sentially public in their nature to drift into Il
hands Of a few men and women, some Of who
have not been too attentive to the public's il
terest in the case and others Of whom have a
copied the direction mainly because it WI
shifted to them.
The country viii have much to be thanld