The Washington herald., 1918-04-06
Our Da, and Our Duty.


He concluded his message with these words
There are, it may be, many months of fiery
trial and sacrifice ahead of 1t is fearful thing
to lead this great peaceful people into war, into
the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civi
zation itself seeming be in the balance. But
the right is more precious than peace, and
shall fight for the things which have always
carried nearest to hearts-for democracy, for
the rights of those who submit to authority to
have a voice in their governments for the
rights and liberties of small nations, for uni
verssl dominion of right by such concert of free
peoples shall bring peace and safety to all
nations and make the world itself at last free. To
such a task dedicate our lives and our for
tunes everything that we are and everything that
have, with the pride OF those who know that
the day has come when America is privileged to
spend her blood and her might for the principles
that gave her birth and happiness and peace which
she has treasured. God helping her, she do
ne other"
Oae year ago Soday--in the early hours of the
: fioTs1sg-sssr was declared and America took her
ri.ce shouldeesta shoulder with all those other
nations battIiag ss7iast the brutal might OF the
sutocratic Hun.
In the 36s day which have sped by, America
has shouldered daily inereasing burden of war.
But America has net done enough Nothing
Nmcrica can do short os her utmost is sufficient.
Nothing less will sepd tie barbarian foe to his
knees and bring freedorr FOR all, forever!
America has gone but little way through the
merry trial" and what have sacrificed in the
past twelve months is but drop in the bucket OF
the sacrifices must make in the days TO COM.
War is war; and this is "the terrible
disastrous of all wars"
\ year ago our President said:
I'VE must fight"
Today we have just begun to fight.
We make of those words, not to bclittc
anything that has been done during the past year.
for what we did tremendously great for
any honest man to belttle, but do place it
that way for what America is going to do during
the second year Of will prove to the foe
that America had just begun to fight on this the
first anniversary of Liberty Day.
That, then, is our duty-to fight never
fought before to fight as the world never dreamed
America could fight!
But they whom send "over there" cannot do
all our fighting Every mothers son OF US and
every mothers daughter of must fight. Those
of US who stay at home must fight in kitchens, IN
mines farms gardens, wherever and whenever VIC
can aid our country fighting for its honor and life,
and for the honor and life of all nations who prize
liberty above all else.
Our boys-God bless them and all!-havc
gone "over there" More and more and more and
still will go.
They 60 willingly and nobly and loyalty
But they can only die in horrible defeat II
we do not do our share OF the fighting here at
home Victory or defeat is within our choice; the
very lives of these brave boys lie in the hollow
of our hands. We fight half-heartcdy and
they die and defeat comes to America and democ-
racy We can fight bravey every minute OF this
war, and peace and victory come.
"To such task we can dedicate lives and
our fortunes"
1t is just as true today as it was year ago,
and il is Just as needful that do these things.
The dedication OF the lives of boys will be
fruitle.s unless dedicate our fortunes to this
same task We can do this or hand them over
as tribute to the Kaiser.
For wars won with money.
This money must be raised Our government
today asks that loan Of our fortunes. large
and small but of ALL so that this may be won
=, the earliest possible moment with the least
r;fice of lives The bonds OF the Third Liberty
Loan issue pay IA per cent dividends. They are
as safe as any investment in the world 1t VIII
strengthen the nations financial foundation If these
bonds are bought and kept by the people rather
than by banks. There is not one reason why
loyal citizen of this country should not invest his
savings in liberty loan bonds and there IS every
reason why he should
That is way in which all OF us who stay at
home can fight. 1t is the big way, too. And this
i. the day to begin this fight. II you have not
already subscribed for liberty loan bond of the
third issue there is yet time for you to do SO to-
day-LIBERTY DAY. If you have subscribed,
how about one for your wife, or sister, or child!
And having done this, will you not go out among
vour friends and neighbors, among acquaintances
and strangers and FIGHTi Fight the battle of
the liberty loan. fight it loyalty and as tirelessly
as the boys "over there" fighting in the hell of
roaring guns and streaming blood
Than that there is no more glorious or patriotic
celebration of Liberty Day.
To thus celebrate Liberty Day is to pcrpctuate
H. And that must be done.