Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-04

needed the Jolt, the warning, the
awakening to national duty to our
selves instead Of granting blindly all
that grasping political organization
demands on pretense Of high pur-
pose"
A gentleman stopped the writer on
the street to say: Il am glad you
said that. (Hc pointed to the above
paragraph to which he had his paper
folded). have felt it from the mo-
ment read President Wilson's ap-
. peal. and you know l have been a
: pretty strong Wilson man.
, Now let me give you the bunch
received when l read this paragraph
In my morning paper. 1t was that
WE ARE TO SEE TWO OVER
. WHELMING LANDSLIDES NEXT
WEEK. one in war and one in Amer
lean politics.
The people Of this country and Of
!. the world are in the mood for both.
We have had enough of selfish power.
and domination of the masses for
nominations sake. l agree with ex-
President Taft that no President has
ever exercised the power given to
and humbly accepted from President
Wilson by the American people-and
he has constantly asked for more and
has complained frequently because
he has met any form OF opposition to
his will or his absolute dictation.
Nov he demands that the people
make his edict absolute by surround
ing him with subservient party ring
masters and approving his patronage
horde.
AS you say. the people have had
. warning in time. The man who
cannot see the portent Of that par
titan appeal must have wood -borers
IN his head. I got my lesson then
and I know others who were as for
tunate. II WAS 'providential,T am
full. convinced. The ways Of Prov
idence are past finding out, but some
times We do have brains enough to
appreciate interposition where we
had not wit enough to see in ad-
vance,
And I believe. as you have some
times suggested. that we deserved
and needed the war: that the world
will be better after the war: that
arrogance was growing in ruling
groups everywhere, and that this war
Is 10 determine the government Of
God in the world. the crushing Of
enslavement Of men, the establishing
OF such a degree of international
unity and brotherly love as a thous-
and years Of peace could not have
brought.
Indeed. 1t seems to me that we
were daily getting farther and far
Their from the teachings and examples
OF our Visitor OF nearly 1000 years
ago. Greed and competition were
growing between man and man, be-
tween state and state. and between
nation and nation.
Il believe God is weary Of the pious
twaddle Of Christian pretense and
has given us something to arouse US
TO things that are bigger than the
qualification Of desires Of the mo-
ment in the flesh. We have received
a Jolt as you say. but we have
been given another chance 1t is up
to us. and II we return to our wal
lowing in the mire after these DEM
onstrations and punishments. then
we shall lay up terrible punishments
for future generations.
Vengeance is mine; will re-
pay.
= Germany 10 to pay for her gen.
erations Of submission to greed and
promise Of world power by her un-
. scrupulous rulers and teachers. The
suppression or obliteration Of her
evil prophets Of the time being would
: not be punishment" but relief-and
Germany must pay for her weakness
. and generations cultivated sin. And
payment" cannot be made by this
generation. II must be handed down
: . burden to their children's children.
The same is true of the revolving
. Turkey, and the rotten Austrian out
. fit: while those who are fighting with
us. the little nations that have been
raked and RACED. neutral nations that
have looked on daring not to pick a
winner and our own noble country
all must suffer. and only God knows
how His justice is measured, for
only He knows the depths of our sins
aud the punishment We deserve.
The Day is at hand for Germany
and she must answer to a higher
court than our representatives
around n peace table. for they shall
be given the necessary light.
Some months ago you published a
poem that I wish you would reprint
now. II was captioned The Day"