Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-02-23

duties 10 our government in these
times Of war. You will recall the great
Washington during those dark days OF
our early history. How he with the
spirit Of freedom burning in his heart
not only had TO fight the enemy upon
the field Of battle, but the people in
his very midst A great many Of us
are under the impression that In those
days every man was patriot and the
country was .oyerrun with enthusiasm
for the cause. ] am sorry to say TO
you II the records Of history are cor
rect that such was not the case. lie
had his pro-enemies TO deal with also.
Even Congress was very hostile.
In his march across the state Of
New Jersey it seemed as though every
other house had a piece Of red flannel
pinned TO the door as an indication that
a Tory lived inside When he crossed
into Pennsylvania and went into win
ter quarters at Valley Forge, the far
mers refused to supply him grain, pre-
ferrlng TO sell It to the enemy who oc-
cupied Philadelphia Upon threat that
he would cOnflscate II they did not fur
burned 10 to keep Il from his half
famished army. There was proilteerlng
and criticisms that would have dis
couraged the strongest Of men, but the
immortal Washington fought on dis
regarding his enemies, never losing
sight OF the goal he was trying to at
tain. Such were the hardshlps OF the
father OF our country, so / made up
my mind when this war began II !
could render no other service to
my country ! would at least keep my
mouth shut and endeayor TO silence
anyone who attempted TO hinder It
either by word or deed.
Don't think that ! fail to recognize
the Justice Of wise criticism. Every
hamlet in this nation has an Official Of
some kind, so II you think you have
anything rood to offer, go TO the prop
er authorities and do so, otherwise you
may be classed as Pro-German.
Il heard an American who had been
an officer two and one-half years with
the Russian Army make the statement
that Germany depended 65 per cent. on
propaganda and 30 per cent. military
efficiency to win this war. He had seen
its operation In Russia and knew Of
It's demOrallzing influences and warned
America against such trickery When
warnings Of this kind come from our
own boys who have experienced the
bitterness Of German propaganda and
know whereof they speak, It is time
for every patriotic American 70 arise
and stamp out this plague wherever
ard whenever the onnortunity presents
itself There should be no sentiment to
favor these traitors, remember that our
boys who have gone across the seas to
1ght our battles are our real friends
and let nothing come between you and
the duty you owe them Every man
who is not with US wholehearted Is
against this country. There can be no
halfway place, 1t is liberty or tyran-
ny. We know where we stand so does
he. so make no mistake.
while not being OF the same poll
tlcal faith, / am proud Of the oppor-
tunity not only 70 endorse but TO fol-
low our great President Woodrow
Wilson.
81 have carefully watched him 10
these trying times we are experiencing
I recall a speech he made In the South
a couple Of years ago in regard to the
aims Of this Government or at least
his aims IN relation TO other countries
/ have frequently read his utterances
upon such subjects how strange they
seemed TO me then, l am free TO admit
I could not grasp his meaning II was
so different from anything had
Known. He was travelling upon diff
ferent plan, he was looking through
the eyes Of democracy 10 an interna-
tlonal way well knew what freedom
meant TO us and what our relations
should be 10 each other, but had been
so interested in our own affairs / had
not thought Of others.
"You will recall before we entered
into this war on the side Of the allies
how muddled and confusing the ideas
were for the objects and purposes OF
this conflict.
THE President had scarcely finished
speaking when the nation began TO
wonder what this great and unselflsh
sacrifice meant u was a doctrine that
was unknown to them. They could not
understand Suddenly the fos began to
lift. the light grew brighter, their
vision clearer and the form OF Wood
row Wilson stood out like q huge for
tress his voice had been heard in every
cline: the battle cry was taken up,
and i'm the tongue Of every free man
"To make the World safe for Democ-
.racy." was what the struggle was
about. Such is the leader we follow TO-
day. He has added more value TO Amer
lean citizenship than any other one
man. He will not only be honored by
his own people but by every other
nation It is an honor and privilege we
should oil be proud OF 10 lgnt for
such a cause.
when this war Is over. researches
Of how it ends the real flght for De
mocraey will just have begun. The
wav has been clearly pointed out and
IL will not be in the power Of any man
| 10 stop. Nations VIII have reconstructed
themselves, great parties will have "a
change their policies when all this has
been accomplished, the world will moi
saaT M g. - !