The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-13
BONDS OR BONDAGE

The ladies of the Red Cross BRANCH at
Ashley, N. D., recently asked the students
of the high school to write essays setting
forth the reasons why everyone should sub
scribe to the Third Liberty Loan The fol-
lowing essay, written by Lillian Bettenga,
.s aged fourteen, has been sent to The journal
by the superintendent of schools. 1t is an
admirable statement of the case for the
Liberty Loan
saw our dear old Uncle Sam standing by the
Ship Of State perplexed and anxious. He was look
ing out across a troubled see where fierce storm
was raging. He turned an anxious face toward the
good Ship that had weathered so many blasts, for
he knew that yonder, where the battle clouds hung
low there ragged the greatest conflict Of the ages
the great struggle that should decide whether
government of the people, for the people, by the
people should perish from the earth
But the face Of Uncle Sam, though anxious,
was set and determined The conflict must be won
in order that peace and justice may be established
among the nations of the earth. However brave
and skilled soldiers may be, however efficient
and devoted our Red Cross workers, however wise
and farseeng our statesman, not even all these
can win the war. No one group or two groups or
three groups of people can win the war. 1t can be
won only by the cooperation of every man, woman
and child
This warfare requires not only the sending of
men to fight in the trenches but also keeping them
fed and clothed 1t requires the building of ships,
the producing of shells, guns, rifles, horses, SOL
diery, motor trucks, airplanes, hospital supplies,
food, and many other things. To produce all these
are required large industrial plants in many parts
of the country
We have pledged to Uncle Sam our sacred honor
to fight this to the last man and the last dollar
if necessary to vanquish the Hun. Uncle Sam ex-
poets every man to do his duty by subscribing lib
orally to the new Liberty Loan so that it may go
"clean over the top"
Secretary Baker has seen our gunners along
what he aptly calls the Frontier Of Freedom"
pounding the Germans with deadly accuracy, bat
tering the gas machines into junk, and capturing
their trenches as though it were an everyday hap
penlng. He assures us that, man to man and gun
to gun, they can more than hold their own. His
every loyal American to redouble his energies to
speed up the work of preparation and in patriotic
sefdenal subscribe to the limit of his ability for
the Third Loan in order that munitions and air.
craft, ships and supplies may be hurried across
with all possible speed.
Shall the American people continue to require
pleasant and comfortable luxures, or shall they by
to Uncle Sans call for this Third Liberty Loan
We have all got to get behind the government in
waging this war for freedom. E
If we need further argument to persuade us to
to the loan, let us think of the suf-
fering, misery, and devastation in Belgium,
France, Serbia, Poland and Armenia, and Of the
treacherous invasion Of the helpless Russia by this
ruthless Hun, who will visit us with the same fate
if he but gets the chance 1t is up to US to buy
bonds, or submit to bondage.
Our brave boys are already engaged in the
deadly combat millions more are preparing them
selves for the great struggle which may exceed
"the last full measure of devotion" Are we go
ing to fail them in the great crisis or are we going
to inspire them with new courage by our hearty re-
Spouse to the call for money by buying Liberty
bonds a Aiaeeal1alieI 1alafla2 =