The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-02-22
WHY THE.WAR MUST
Be FOUGHT THROUGH

Before the war was decided upon
whether the country should enter the
war was a matter Of personal opinion
but when the nation acted, it acted Tor
an II became our war, and the sup
mort of the government became ths
dntv of every citizen. The shortest
road to peace is the road straight
ahead of US, with no division among
our people. Division now would SIM
Div tend to prolong the war and make
it more costly in money and men, ana
no one can afford to take on himself
the responsibility of adding one I'M
necessary day to the wars length or
one unnecessary drop of blood or dol
lar from the nations treasury.
The more earnestly one desires
neace. the more Loyalty he should sup
mort his government as the only
means of fastening peace.
Patriotism is love of country ex-
messed in terms of national service
II is a permanent quality but mani
tests itself in various ways according
TO the needs Of the time. 1t requires
that the citizen shall put his country
above himself and the interests that
are personal to him, no matter what
the cost Of the sacrifice. This ne does
without attempting to figure out what
he is to receive in return or when the
return is to be expected. If he were
to enter uron a systematic calculation
he would find himself very largely IN
debted to his country for advantages
so great that he can hardly estimate
them and 50 long enjoyed that he sell
dom thinks of them. The good that
one derives from citizenship in coun-
try ike ours enters his life somewhat
as the breath enters his body. lie re-
ceives as a matter of course. and he
ENJOYS without stopping to think OF his
condition if he were deprived Of the
blessings that are his inheritance be-
cause he lives under the flag. 1t Is
only when his enjoyment Of them is
interrupted or when a right is denied
that he really recognizes the import
ance of that which is daily his bu
which he unconsciously accepts anC
uses.
The American citizen lives undeI
the best government in the world; 1
IS a peoples government, administer
ed bv those whom the people choose
and according to a written constltu
ton which the people made and whicl
the people alone can change. Our gov
eminent reflects the increasing virtue
intelligence md patriotism of the PEG
pie and can be made as good as tn
people desir it to be.
Because american citizenship car
ries with it more blessings than cit
zenship in any other land the Amer
can citizen should be willing to sa9
fee more than any other citizeY, !
make sure that the blessings n =.
.kgovernment shau descend l11iulnak
rIie rEruIh (which the citizen makes
to his government is usually made in
the payment Of taxes. The work done
by his town or city is collected for
through assessments made against his
property and is counted in his fixed
charges. The work done by his state
is likewise charged up to him in some
proportion fixed by law And so with
his contribution to the federal govern
ment. He makes these payments
sometimes willingly, sometimes Crude
lngly, but in culinary times they con-
stitute practically the whole cost of
citizenship to him.
He is liable Of course to Jury duty.
but he receives compensation for this.
1t is his duty also to attend caucuses,
primaries and elections, but as it is
not compulsory, the performance is a
matter Of convenience where it is not
a matter Of pleasure or political inter-
est.
In time Of war, however, the cost of
citizenship increases, and he is called
upon to respond to numerous demands
which are unknown in times of peace.
The most extreme demand that can
be made upon his patriotism is the call
to put his life at the command of his
government and die if necessary, in
its behalf. He should be more willing
to do this in this country than in any
other because the right to take this
country into war is not lodged in an |
hereditary monarch as it used to be
everywhere in the past and still is in |
some Of the countries Of Europe. No
power can Involve the country il war
except a congress and that congress
IS now chosen entirely BY the people.
The senate was formerly made up Of
members selected by state legislatures
but since 1913 the senate has been as
representative a body as the house
and IS as completely under the control
Of the people. The citizens of the
United States, therefore, have all the
protection against war that modern
methods Of government have provid-
ed-they are carried into war only by
the deliberate act of those whom they
have chosen to speak for them.
In former days the soldiers needed
to meet a new emergency were secur-
ed by the volunteer systematic call
being general and the response being
dependent upon the volition of the cit
liens. In this war, however, congress.
by a large majority substituted for !,
the volunteer system q system describ