Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-08-29
That Is What Every American
Must Do in Order That War
Shall Be Won.
DEMOCRACY Being TESTED
Victory over Teuton Despoticn a Mat
ter of Money and Each Patriot
Will Deny Himself All but Ne
cessities That 1t May Be
Achieved.
BY HERBERT QUICK.

democracy Is inefficient. We have
often read hat it takes a despotism
TO do things.
The Germans believed that they
could win this war and conquer the
world for two reasons; first, because,
in spite of some things which look
democratic, the German empire is a
deSp0tism and, second, because it is
the first despOtism in the history of
the world which has reached a very
high point in general physical and
mental development. They and many
people in the democratic countries be-
ieved that they could win against the
democracies of the world
Democracy, they said, would be the
anvil; despotism the hammer.
Democracy would be the whale !;
despotism would be the swordfish.
Democracy would be the target
despotism the gun.
Democracy would be the deer
despotism the wolf.
Democracy the huge. unwieIdy graz
Ing animal; despotisln the flesh eater
with fangs and claws.
Surprises for Oespotisn.
The splendid resistance of Belgium
ana France, the magnificent rallying of
Great Britain to the trumpet call, and
the intrepid decision Of Italy to join
in resistance to the German attack,
were the greatest surprises which up
to that tine had ever been encounter
ed by q despot. Before the war had
been going on for six months some of
the Wisest of the cold and cruel minds
Of Germany began to wonder whether
after all the democracies of the world
were not too strong to be overcome.
And then came the biggest surprise
of the war. The greatest democracy
of the wOrld-the United States-SIow-
ly began to realize that the whole
cause of freedom for the common man,
not only in Europe and in Asia, but
here in America, was at stake in this
war. Slowly the idea began to pene-
trate the American mind that the
Vaccinations of Germany constitute a
greater peril to this country than did
the issue fought out in the American
revolution or the decisive strife of our
own war between the states.
America saw at last that if Germany
wins this war democracy will have fail
ed; not only the democracy of Euro
pean countries, but the democracy of
the world. There would be nothing
left for us through all the future but
a losing fight against the most cruel
and efficient despotism of all time.
And finally, in spite of our own
peaceful history, in spite of our own
love of peace, in spite of German lies
and German propaganda. and the
damnable plots of German spies, the
United States acted.
The nation reached slowly for the
sword, drew it, and plunged with all
her mighty power into this dreadful
fray.
And so, on some of the bloodiest bat
tlefields that ever desoIated the soil of
any country, our splendid American
soldiers are bearing the Stars and
Stripes to victory.
DEMOCRACY is PROVING ITSELF f
EFFICIENT.
They carry the Stars and Stripes to
victory alongside the flags of Great
Britain, France, Italy and a score of
other nations, because they know that
they are lighting the old battle of right
against wrong, of democracy against
6lSnnfiSpo ~ Il.
whole history of the United States be-
comes at once as if 1t never had been.
Democracy Is Proving Efficient
That is the thing which must strike
terror to the hearts of the p0iSoners,
violatorS and baby killers of Berlin.
We have met and vanquished the
submarine. We are now placing in
the field in Europe our second million
of men, and back of that second mill
lion there is third million, fourth
million. q fifth million and still other
millions of men.
We have shown ourselves efficient in
production. We have more than made
good our promise to send food to our
allies. We have organized our indus
tries for war.
We have firmly resolved that having
drawn the sword we will throw away
the scabbard and never sheath that
sword except In victory.
Victory a Matter of Money.
But this war is a progressive thing.
1t cannot be won through things we
have done, but must be carried on TO
victory through things which we must
do In the future. On one side we see
that splendid host of young men car
rying our banners In the battIefields
Of France and Flanders. On the other
side we must remember that war. and
this war more than any other war
which was ever waged, is a matter of
food, of shelter. OF clothing, of NUM-
tions, Of weapons. of roads, of en-
gines, Of cars, of ships, of hospitals,
of medicines and of everything WHICH