The state herald., 1918-04-05
"Go ON OR
co UNDER"
BY Ross |. Hammond

tMr Hammond was member Of party
OF fourteen who went to Europe in Octo.
Der and returned about December ]. OF
tnis number ten were members OF con-
EIessi & Ihe party were guests OF the Brit :
much of the time and were escorted by
representatives OF these Governments up
and down The battle lines and were shown
inond Is publisher Of the Daily and Tri-
weekly Tribune Of Fremont Neb., and is
filling many public speaking engagements
at the present ttme.)
Premier Lloyd George never coined
truer epigram than that I'VE must
30 on or go under"
How the war d going on can be
understood. even In part. only by
those who have been near to 1t, which
privilege recently had. That 1t is
the most colossal tragedy in human
history is proved by glance at any
phase of 1t.
Americas part in the struggle is be-
Ing performed because America can
not avoid it. Autocracy is running
amuck and we stand in its road.
Either 1t stalks triumphant over all
that We have been taught to hold
sacred and dear or we and those with
us slay the dragon from whose red
Jaws blood is dripping. We and II
cannot live in the world together.
l have seen England, France and
Belgium battling with the beast. Now
my own country is sending its men
Into the fray and the effort and the
sacrifices that are being made abroad
viii soon be witnessed here. We may
not see here the actual fighting. Let
us hope not. But we cannot escape
the other appalling features.
England is vindicating her tradi-
lions and her ideals. She Is not fight
ing for territorial expansion. This is
by no means as vital or essential to
her as is proof Of the binding nature
of her compacts. The preservation
of Belgian neutrality drew her into
the struggle. For this her soldiers
are battling and her great navy is
steamed up ready for the master
stroke: for this her women are work
ing In field and factory and are pour.
thb out thtit
In innumerable hospitals.
France Is making the great sacri-
flee. Paris. which sets the styles for
the world. is wearing black as a sym
Dol of sorrow. and the world is adopt
ing II. for all the world is mourning.
But Paris and France. though in tears.
are not without hope. They are look
ing eagerly forward to victory. when
the invading Huns are driven from
French soil and the lost provinces Of
Alsace and Lorraine will be restored
to their rightful owners. The coming
OF the American troops has given
them new courage. With unexampled
bravery they are holding the line un-
I'll the strength Of America can be
hurled against the foe. The republic
stili echoes with the wild acclaim
given to General Pershing and his ex-
peditionary force. II will be mighty
task for the United States to measure
up to French expectations.
Riding as I recently did up and
down the whole battle front in France
and Flanders. saw much OF the suf.
fering France has heroically endured
Her ruined cities and towns. her de.
vastated territory. her dead soldiers.
her outraged women. her tortured
children. all cry out for vengeance.
Every reported atrocity Of the Ger.
man army is true. and very much
more. l got much evidence from eye
witnesses OF unspcakable barbarities.
All the waters OF the seven seas can
never wash away the foul stains.
In Belgium. at n reception given by
King Albert. ! asked Ambassador
Brand whitlock what word could be
taken back to tho people Of America.
He said: 1T is difficult to put II In
word. but this is to be said Of the
Germans: they disregard every senti.
ment OF honor and integrity. every.
thing we hold sacred and dear. They
have violated with utter impunity
every agreement ! have ever made
with them" The conclusion from
this and flood OF other like testi.
mony is that I'VE must 80 on or go
under" No compromise or settlement
with the Hohenzollerns will be more
than IA scrip Of paper" The United
States has one supreme duty at this
hour. That is TO furnish the money
and tho man power TO defeat tho arch