The Colorado statesman., 1918-05-25


cerned, is that 1t is, perhaps for the
first time In history. an unselfish war.
II could not be proud to fight for n
selfish purpose. but l. can be proud to
fight for mankind.
IF they wish peace let them come
forward through accredited represent
atives and lay their terms on the table
We have laid ours, and they know what
they are.
But behind all this grim purpose,
my friends, lies the opportunity to
demonstrate not only force, which will
be demonstrated to the utmost, but the
opportunity to demonstrate character,
and 1t is that opportunity that we have
most conspicuously In the work of the
Red Cross.
Not that our men in arms do not
represent our character, for they do,
and 1t Is a character which those who
see and realize appreciate and admire;
but their duty is the duty of force.
The duty of the Red Cross is the duty
of mercy and succor and friendship.
War Uniting the World.
imagination of what this war is doing
for us and for the world?
"In my own mind l am convinced
that not a hundred years of peace
could have knitted this nation togeth-
er as this single year of war has knit
ted it together; and better even than
that, IL possible, it is knitting the
world together.
Look at the picture. In the center
of the scene, four nations engaged
against the world, and at every point
of vantage, showing that they are seek
ing selfish ACKNOWLEDGMENT; and,
against them, twenty-three govern
ments representing the greater part of
the population of the world, drawn to-
gether into a new sense of community
of interest, a new sense of community
of purpose, new sense of unity OF
life.
1.-THE secretary of war told me an
interesting incident the other day. He
said when he was in Italy a member
of the Italian government was explain
ing to him the many reasons why Italy
felt near to the United States.
Heart of U. S. In Italy.
"If you want to try an interesting
experiment go up to any one of these
troop trains and ask in English how
many of them have been in Amtrica,
and see what happens.
''He tried the experiment. He went
up to a troop train and he said: How
many of you boys have been in Amer
ica?' and he said it seemed to him as
If half of them sprang up: Me from
San Francisco; me from New York;
all over
"There was part of the heart of
America in the Italian army. People
that had been knitted to us by associ-
alton, who knew us, who had lived
amongst us, who had worked shoulder
to shoulder with us, and now friends
of America, were fighting for their ma
tive Italy.
AssaiIs War Profiteers.
Friendship Is the only cement that
will ever hold the world together. And
this intimate contact of the Red Cross
with the people who are suffering the
terrors and deprivations of this war is
going to be one of the greatest instru-
mentalities of friendship that the
world ever knew, and the center of the
heart of 1t all, If we sustain it proper
ly, will be this land that we so dearly
love.
my friends, great day of duty has
come, and duty finds mans soul as
no kind of work can ever find it.
MAY say this? The duty that faces
us all now is to serve one another, and
no man can afford to make fortune
out of this war.
"There are men amongst us who
have forgotten that. If they ever saw
it. Some of you are old enough am
old enough-to remember men who
made fortunes out of the Civil war,
and you know how they were regard
ed by their fellow citizens. That was
war to save one country-this is a
war to save the world"
Better to Give Than Lend.
"And your relation to the Red Cross
is one of the relations which will re-
lieve you of the stigma. You can't
give anything to the government of the
United States; it won't accept it.
There is law of congress against ac-
cepting even services without pay.
1.-THE only thing that the government
will accept is loan, and duties per-
formed; but 1t is great deal better
to give than to lend or to pay and your
great channel for giving is the Ameri-
can Red Cross.
Down in your hearts you can't take
very much satisfaction, in the last
analysis, in lending money to the gov
ernment of the United States, because
the interest which you draw will burn
your pockets; 1t is commercial trans
action, and some men have even dared
to cavil at the rate of interest, not