The Robesonian., 1918-08-29

Some one Is going to wish to hang
himself after the war IL over. How
do We know? It Is a principie as old
and true as life. Shakespeare gave
expression to it when he made Henry
~ wave His hand to q delinquent SOL
der. after an important battle had
been fought, and say, Hang yourself
Crillon. We have fought at Argues and
you were not there" Historians say
that il all the tragedies of wars could
be written, the saddest chapters would
be those which recorded the victims
of relentless remorse-the Judases
who went out and hanged themselves,
because their God and their country
called and they did not go.
There are four occasions on which
. man who did not answer his coun-
try's call at time of need will wish
to hang himself when the war is over.
The first of these will be when the
soldiers return, battle SCARED but vic
torious and happy, and when he will
be called upon to face them and an
swer In his soul what he did to help
to bring them back safe and triumph
ant. AS they will march for the grand
review before the President, and then
before the Governor. and later through
the streets of his own little town,
when millions will tArill and shout
their throats hoarse with praise and
acclamations, then will he hate him
self. Down in his heart he will wish
that he were hanging from q tree over
q cliff.
Another occasion on which such a
man will be called to face another gen.
eration.-it may be his own children,
who when they have asked every
question concerning the war, will look
with great expectancy into his face
and ask, What did you do to help win
the war? Rather than disappoint one
OF these little ones, he would rather
that milestone were about his neck
and that he were drowned at the bot
tom Of the sea.
Then there is public opinion that he
will meet face to face day after day
as long as he lives. He may hear
deeds upon deeds OF patriotism, but
he can never live down the ignominy
brought upon himself and his poster
fty BY refusing to heed his country,
call. No attempt that he may make
ss an effort to declare his patriotism
or redeem his record of dishonor VIII
Do accepted by merciless public opin
ion. Nothing he can say or little tina,
he can do will atone for the charg,
that his country called and he was no,
there.
And yet the greatest Of all his &C
cusers will be his conscience. He vii
seek to hide from this by day and
nee from 1t by night, but its ever &C
cusing finger will be present. Forre
1t, he can not. His spirit will ever dil
into his ears the condemning voice
saying, "A great battle was fouxht fo
God and right and you were not thers
Go hang yourself"
Who 10 the Man?
Tho man who will want to han,
himself after the war will belong I,
one OF three classes, traitor. slacte,
profteer-three words of the mos& "a
nominious meaning in the English lsS
Suage today.
II his crime be that Of q traitor I
does not necessarily mean that h
crossed the seas and BETRAYED th
movement Of troops, or gave out othe
Information that aided the enemv a.
che other hand, It may mean. an
most likely does mean, that he "a
one whose fortune Il was to remai
at home. but who refused 70 suppor
Ills Government BY complying with II
various requests, which hindered II
program. prolonged the war and ca,
the lives Of thousands OF Americ.
soldiers; O. he criticised the Govar,
mont which gave rfas 20 enemy nro,
sSanda and furthered IT. spread 10 =