The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-08

what then. is this abstract, Elusive
quality?
Have we as much, or more, or less
Of 1t than the Germans?
Do We relv too much on our IN
| limited natural resources and toe
| little on our cultivated spiritual re-
sources? Morale is a thing OF the
soul. 1t is the bridal child Of think
| ing and feeling. 1t grows in doing
1t Is individual and collective. 1t is
never constant. II varies with wind
and weather, with fair news and foul
Particularly. is it volatile behind
the lines, Weak, it cannot resist the
insidIous attacks OF an enemy with 9
hundred thousand spies, yes, five
hundred thousand spies whose speech
and thought poison our whole coun-
try as Criminally as a surreptltiously
launched gas attack. Then, how are
we to strengthen our morale? OF
the army shall not speak. Morale is
the faith Of the soldier. But you,
who read this, my citizen brother,
who cheer as the soldhers march
pass, who rise when the orchestra
plays the Star Spangled Banner
who insist that even heaven-born
Boston is part Of the United States
and shall do likewise, what is the
true quality of your morale?
Examine your conscience and see
if you are ready to make the sacri-
fees made by Belgian, English and
French mothers and fathers.
Your Attitude Toward Sacrifice.
Does your pOcket-bOOk nerve
twinge, as though racked with sciat-
lea, every time II is touched for a
war loan, or a Red Cross contrihu-
ton? II so, you need a system OF
exercises to strengthen your morale.
Are you resentful when meatless and
wheatless days are suggested? What
selfish schemes to balk Mr.. Hoover's
plans have passed through your
mind? Let no citizen think the food
restrictions do not apply to him. II
each of our hundred million inhabit-
ants cuts down the Jumps of sugar
he or she uses in the daily cup of
coffee or tea by one, for but one day,
the national plane Of morale is raised
one degree for that day. If we
simply think of the food saving de-
manded by the present emergency in
terms Of Lent, we solve the worlds
food problem. War is Lenten time;
a time Of fasting, res0lutions-and
prayer.
Does your morale weaken with the
SSAN "AANAA NAAC IoAAAlO4 AEpuILS AuE
furnace out for lack of coal? Would
you rather run your thousand dollar
electric sign night after night than
save the coal so burnt for munition
plants? If so, remember the front
line trenches are not steam heated
and that shell shortage means death
to the men in those trenches. Yet,
these are but the minor tests Of
Small, indeed, the spirit
that cannot rise above them. 1t is
when greater sacrifices are demand
ed that the true state of the nations
soul will stand revealed. Mother.
must you give your son? What is
the spirit Of your giving? Wife, do
you lose your husband? Think of
the wives Of Belgium and France.
Children do you miss your father?
Remember the orphans Of war.
So each sacrifice on the altar Of
our country wounds our soul Not
only comfort, a warm home and
bounteous meals, must be forsworn,
but with brave hearts our mothers
and wives must give all that is near
est and dearest to them. And as is
the strength Of their spirit in this
giving, so is the strength of. the soul
Of the nation.
Thus morale is another word for
strength Of soul. And the war will
be won by the nation with the great
est soul.