Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-14
FTER a period of infinite pa
: ed deliberation and set purpose,

~ tience and with well-consider-
ed deliberation and set purpose,
we entered and are now engaged in
prosecuting a righteous war.
we have prepared to dedicate and
are dedicating to this cause the full
measure of our devotion.
NO hand is unwilling, nor is one
heart reluctant to do what can be
done. Businessmen are forfeiting
large incomes. and young men are
sacrificing their most cherished am
Dluons in order that they may offer
their lives to their country. Mothers
are giving their sons to the nation
and wives are bidding their hus-
bands God-speed, as they sail for
france. Millions of Americans are
facing tasks to-day that are new,
and hard, and bitter, and are facing
them with a smile.
The one great question on the lips
or every man and woman is, What
can l do to help? What part am 1
to play? What share-what mite
of sacrifice and service can / con-
tribute to my country and my fiag?"
sometimes this question is answer
cd with an opportunity fraught with
canger and filled with corresponding
glory. Far oftener the part assigned
to us is inconsiderable: the buying of
- SSiAN pSi iiebpot Ot ppoolDly tile -lSIc
payment of a tax. Nevertheless, to
play small, an unremembered and
lnconspicuous part in the winning
OF this great world conflict is q rare
ana splendid privilege.
Even that most prosaic duty -
the prompt, ungrudging payment of
taX-becomes an actual and an
honorable service. For new levies
must and will be made upon our
afn6 1nine n YNofrinfin
duty If we meet them cheerfully and
willingly. Last year five hundred
thousand individuals paid tax up
on their incomes. This year six mil
lion citizens will be called upon to
shoulder for the first time this new
burden of taxation.
Shall we, however, call this a bur-
den? Is it then burden to support
the great institutions in America
that protect and shelter us? Can it
be burden to uphold the arms Of
our President in a cause that is just?
VIII we name that q burden which
helps our country carry on a war
that is untainted by selfish aims and
ambitions-a war that is a crusade
to establish and permanently to in
sure the freedom of all the nations
of the earthI
Some may call this a burden, but
there are those, and there are legion,
who will accept this new tax as a
new opportunity for sacrifice and for
service, a rare occasion for show
ing the government that it's citizens
recognize the great purposes of this
war and that they will back the gov
ernment in this supreme enterprise
to their last dollar.
For America now stands at the
supreme moment of her history. She
has been chosen as the keystone in
the great arch of civilization. Her
strong arm and fertile brain, her
great wealth and vast resources,
must bear the measured attack of
the mightiest, the blackest, the most
sinister and most diabolical military
machine that ever destroyed the
peace of the world and challenged
its freedom. Americas great hour
has struck. The tragedy and ruin
of her failure would be as great, as
complete, as irrevocable as the glory
Of her success. The flood-tide of
her affairs has set in and to take
it at the full demands the brave
hearted loyalty and heroic self-ef-
facing patriotism of every citizen.
Not grudging loyalty that reluct-
antly does it's legal and bounden
duty. For a stingy and niggardly 10y
atty that cools when its pocketbook
and comforts are touched. loyalty
that does not burn more brightly
with each new and necessary sacri-
flee, is the loyalty of soul that is
dead.
America could not command a
loyalty so complete or inspire a de-
votion so single and so fervid II its
cause were not so sacred. 1t is but
short time ago that our President
restated the noble aims for which
we are striving-"The eyes of the
people have been opened" he said,
land they see. The hand of God is
laid upon the nations. Our cause is
:iust and holy-for this we entered
the war and for this cause willswe
battle until the last gun is fired"
The ears of the world are accus-
toned to the boasts of war-lords
who draw their swords for brutal
and selfish ends, but it is new to hear
call to battle voiced in such phras-
es as these and the other sublime
passages of the Presidents recent
message to Congress.
With these high words ringing in
our ears, with our spirits and the
spirit of the nation bathed and glori-
fie6 by this exalted idealism, could
the least of us be recreant to his
hum blest duty-the payment of a.
tax-and so forfeit his share in the
heritage of glory that will inevitably