The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-12

can men, women and children ruth
lessly summarized and murdered. Ger ]
many then issued an order closing the
seas, which order would have closed
the zone through which passed two
thirds of our export wheat; fve-sixths
of our hog products; six-sevenths of
our cotton, and seven-e eighths of our
beef products. Could six and a half
million farmers, could the twenty mil
lion toilers. could the one hundred
million people Of this country submit
to this action? Could our countrymen
have maintained their self-respect
had they submitted to such out
rageous conduct? But for our en-
trance into the war France and Eng
land would have finally been crushed |
The English navy and the French and
English armies standing between us
and our enemies would have succumb-
ed to Germany. With these armies
and navies out Of the way the Allan
tic ocean would have been under Ger
many's control, and open to their
We would have been attacked and
our country invaded on the coast,
through Canada on one side and Mex
leo on the other. This was Germany's
hope and her plan; the Zimmerman
note reveals the far-reaching intrigue
and treachery, and the attempted
marshaling of many forces against us.
Civilization itself was threatened. To
have submitted would have meant the
loss of country, loss of liberty, loss of
honor. Our children, along with those
in Belgium, Northern France, Poland
and other conquered lands would
have become slaves, and our women
would have been compelled to submit
to the bestial passions of the soldiers
of the Kaiser. Our right to share in
a free government would have been
lost, and militarism directed by the
iron hand of one man would have
taken it's place. Rights on land and
sea would have been lost; freedom
and patriotism would have been dead.
What more need be, said to South
lCarolinians, part and parcel of
America? We are proud of our coun-
try, jealous of our institutions, de-
voted to our liberty, and will die to de-
fend our lights. Today our patriotism
burns with new light, and our coun-
try stands united behind our presi-
dent and our government. Together
we will fight for all we hold dear till
an honorable victory and lasting
peace TO mankind shall prevail
There are men who oppose our pro-
gress in the war, who, to weaken our
armies, seek to delay their progress
j to block the highways by which our
arm1es are fed, or to hamper the
high authorities responsible for
their efficiency. These men are not
asserting their free-born difference OF
judgment. Let them remember that
they serve in one army or the other
Every man in America must give his
whOle-hearted support to our govern
mcnt in every way, or he supports our
enemies by hanging back, and is,
therefore, fighting for Germany. These
men are traitors, the constitution
gives them this name, and they should
receive their punishment To the su-
perficial observer it may seem strange
that we align ourselves with England,
from whom we won our independence.
and that England should now be side
by side with France, who helped us
then. To some with memories of the
sixties 1T may seem strange to hail
soldiers of South Carolina as soldiers
of the United States. But all clears
up when we recall when England op-
pressed us, we fought her; when the
were the first to take up arms and
now when freedom everywhere is in
danger we rush with the hosts of our
united cOuntrymen to join Britain and
to join France in striking a death
blow at that mighty tyrant who dark
ems the world, and is a world menace.
That blow will be struck and struck
mortally. To make sure Of it we must
do our part here, as our soldiers will
do theirs beyond the seas. To this
great work. with all it's urgency, now
commend YOU. May God give us tn
strength the vision, the wisdom and
the courage to do our duty