Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-23
BY VIRGINIA FRkZER BOYLE.


BY the law of compensation ev-
cry great event in the history of
nation has been encompassed by
sacrifce-supreme and vicarious,
If confined to the few. In the ordi-
nary trend of times, when men
are about their more or less sordid
occupations and pleasures, THESE
stand out with startling distinct
ness. But in experimenting move
melts, where an entire civilization
is being swept as with a single
purpose, the supreme sacrifice OF
the few reacts as against. instead
of for, the body polite. The body
itself must thrill with concerted
action, and thus make for strength,
unity, power, If it wOulu realize
success in its cause.
We. of these United States, have
not yet met with the supreme mo-
ment: have not yet moved with
that concerted action. We have
given OF our sons, our kindred, our
employees at the call of the army
and the navy of the United States.
We have hung out our service flags
that we have done it. We have
given of our dollars spOradicaliy
for the exigencies of the times, but
few have been called upon to make,
or have made. the personal sacri-
fee.
If we are neither the "musn
bags" nor money bags" which
Germany has said we are. no man,
woman, or child wants business
as usual" until we can show the
stars and stripes floating at the
head OF a victorious army. If we
are neither "mush bags nor mon
ey bags" there is no party line
from the Atlantic to the Pacific
except that of traitor or american.
II we are neither ''mush bags" nor
money bagS''-untiI the supreme
trial Of civilization and Christian
/ ity shall have passed, Massachu-
setts has forgotten protection
/ There is no North, no South, no
! East, no West-only Americans on
guard who are standing for the
brotherhood of man; that is, if we
know what feaIty means.
If there be one among us who
would make use OF this crucial Pc
/ riOd for gain or to serve his per
sOnGl ends, be they finance or am
bition, he should be stood against
a wall and shot. If there be one
who would juggle with present
governmental conditions. looking
to the advancement or pTeferment
of any political party or parties
and thereby hindering the speed
ing up of our preparations, he
/ should be branded as traitor and
set in an open cage upon the high
/ way for loyalty to spit upon. The
/ United States has never carried !
mailed hand; for 120 years she
has had no occasion to use one
! In our sudden awakening from the
luxury of peace some mistakes
/ have been made. God Almighty
/ only could have administered this
/ big business, grown mammoth in
a single night, without making
/ mistakes. Bismarck planned this
war 40 years ago, and Germany
has been preparing for it every
day since; that was her business
/ as usual" We are new il this war
1 business, but let US throw our
whole strength into it; go into i:
with clean hands and, please GOD,
! come out of 1t with clean hands.
You, good liver, whose latch
| string has always hung on the out
side, and who add up your ledger
/ on the credit side in six columns
/ you, workingman, who wave good
/ bye to the little boy in the door
/ way Of your tiny home, then take
your dinner pail on to the machine
shop, can you look on the repro
! ductions of the medals which have
/ been issued by Germany during
this war, and say, Business as
usual? We have all heard of the
/ medal commemorative OF the sink
/ ing of the Lusitania. But that is
only one of the $50 which have
/ drifted into England through neu-
trail nations. and have been col
lected by the keeper of the depart
ment of coins and medals of the