Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-17
TOLD WHY AMERICA
IS IN THE WAR
tContinned from Page IL

ing shield and sword hetokens the
German people. Their natioanl life
dwells solely in conquest and self az
grandizement.
Twenty-Five years ago We said
there never would be another war. but
today We are in the greatest war the
world has ever seen-and We are in
il TO the last man and to the last dol
lar. We sill settle it and We will set
tie il right.
"Why are We in this war; Wait m
till we see the casualty lists We are
not in it because of superficial things.
Not because Belgium was ravaged
Not because of the Lusitania Not be-
cause OF our Americans lying al ,the
bottom OF the sea. Not because
women have been subject to German
aendishness. The things they say
about these are all true. Ii was not
gas. nor indemnities, nor conquest
nor poisoned wells. as great and dead
ly and terrible as they were.
Facts piled upon with ineontro
yertable proof. Germany is drunk
with lust. Drunk with alcohol and
drunk with a desire for conquest and
power Her crimes were not com
mitted alone by the common soldier
They have been done with the know
ledge and approval Of her men high in
governmental affairs. Her officers
from top to bottom cOnd0ned the
atrocities that have confronted all OF
Europe.
Then followed a historical account
of Germany from the time OF t'reder
lex the First. back in 1900, when Prus-
STA consisted of TIVE little principal
tiles, both of which were yaSsals of
Austria Hungary the parent state,
down to the time Of Frederick The
Great, Bismark and the present en-
porer She believes in an autOCratiC
government in all the evil forms that
that system of administration por.
tends. II is taught in her schools,
in her Universities from her pulpits
and by her subsidized press There
is no escaping it,
why did we go to war?
There really has been two wars.
The war of 1914 for trade and com.
merce and the war OF 1917 for free.
dom and the right 10 live. This 1917 /.
war is a war Of democracy against I
autocracy. II was inevitable when I
that became the issue the United |.
States should 90 into it. We are an
enlghten and educated people. Our |
school system has made that posi-. |.
Bile. We couldn't be led into it blind |
folded. We had our eyes opened and |
when the right time came we struck.
Another reason Is President vii
son Back in 19l4-l9l5 and even up
to 1916 he saw We would be a divided
people were We to enter the war then.
He waited the proper moment before
permitting declaration of war.
Two years ago only 50 per cent Of the
American people were ready to yield
themselves to the passions of war.
WILSON, whom | believe not only to
be the President of the United States.
but the prime minister of the world
awaited the right moment to strike.
WheD he struck he had united peo-
pie behind him
THE world will be asphyixated If
Germany wins. Well live as those
boys IN France are living facing the
deadly gas which shrivles their lungs
and makes them gasp for life. Ger. !
many hates Us because we believe in
self-government Germany has barr
cd that door and from infancy her
boys and girls are taught to believe
in the divine right of kings. Her
people believe only in the iron heel
and the clank Of saber. There are
two classes in Germany master and
slave.
Fighting is the last issue in Ger.
many II is made the last issue in
this war We must 20 about it sing
ing no songs Of hate and with no pas.
sion IN our hearts towards the German
people The day will come when they /
VIII be enlightened and ready TO Join
IN renewal Of the worlds peace We |
must prepare for that time.
MIR. Duncan's Letter.
The following is Mr. Duncan's let |
TER to the school and pupils, in which
he points out the need Of concerted
steps to build up military training in
the Q. Ii. s..
NY dear Mr.. Kingman.
Owing to the fact that a business
mailer OF arbitrary nature has called
me to Chicago, ! viii be unable to at.'
tend the commencement exercises on
Thursday evening
J am very sorry that will be I'm /
able to be present because the other
members al .le board had appointed
me TO represent the board In the pro
seniatioh OF the diplomas and in the
making OF few announcements Ia the
people Of this 'ownshp and especially T
70 the parents OF the scholars who
Will attend the high school during the
approaching year.
The subject matters the members
OF the board desired to be mentioned
are IN substance ms follows,