Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-12
An Epochal Day in History's Making


TODAY, September -, 1918, will be
epochal in the lives of $4,000, 900 Ameri-
can citizens as we'll as in the life OF the won
derful nation to which they bear allegiance.
On this day they will register for service
with the colors and thereby signify their
readiness for duty at the side of that other
100000 who registered in the first call on
June 5, 1917, and now help to make up the
national reservoir of available man power.
On this day they renew the national VOW
that democracy shall not perish from the face
OF the earth, that the Prussian military caste
shaii cease to be menace to the free institu-
lions OF this and other liberty-loving nations,
and that President Wilson's promise OF
force, force to the limit" shall be carried
out to the letter and victory assured to the
allied arms, which are the arms Of peace
and righteousness. On this day they dedicate
their lives, their all, to the only cause that
really matters, for all things else are sub
merged in the struggle which il lost would
reduce the munifcent gifts of civilization into
worse than nothingness.
What rare privilege it is that is con-
ferred upon these 100000 sturdy Ameri-
can citizens. To no other nation has it been
given since time began to fight for cause
so just and with such absolute disinterested-
ness Of purpose except that might shall not
prevail over right, that the rocks on which
the Revolutionary fathers builded the Con-
stftution shall not be rent and torn asunder,
and the torch of freedom which they held
aloft to an endarkened world be not quenched
in the turgid waters Of mitarism. Not even
the Crusaders who died with their eyes fixed
on Jerusalem had holer purpose. And to-
day these 100000 Americans as one man
will uncover before their flag and, in accents
that will reverberate in Potsdam and strike
terror to the Teuton heart, with one voice
acclaim I'VE are ready to see this war
through to the finish call us when you want
US. 1t is almost unthinkable that there will
be few shirkers, slackers and towards who
will not realize the privilege that is theirs
and seek TO evade their duty, but their num-
Der will be so small as TO be negligible. But
such as they they will be rounded up and
taught the lesson of service which they have
not in their hearts.
And America to-day gives anew its answer
to Germanys war of frightfulness and brute
force. That answer is read in this calling Of
100000 men into the national service
With to-day's registrations, those OF year
ago. the volunteers and regular army, the
United States now has man-power reservoir
Of more than 25,Ooo,oO0. 1t is sufficient to
teach Germany that force can be met and
overcome by force, and that whatever chance
Of victory Prussia may have had, van
ished when it deliberately thrust this country
into the list of its open enemies
There should be proud Joy and grim deter
mination in the heart of every man who reg
listers to-day. Let him look across the At
lantic to the fields OF France where his fell
low-countrymen are gaining impershable
glory, and then resolve within himself that
their sacrifices shall not be in vain. That is
| the way to win the war-and in that way the
war shall be won.