Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-01-04

A'toAt"' iN"uVhSS % 81 potent as &c
cause the German autocracy to aban
don its mad purpose OF world-con.
quest.
1t was the policy of those who
plotted and mare ready for the time
to accomplish the desire of the Ger.
man rulers, to hull into false security
the great nations which they intended
to subdue, so that when the storm
broke they would be unprepared
How we'll they succeeded you know
But democracy no longer sleeps. II
; is fully awake TO the menace which
threatens it. The American people,
trustful and friendly, were reluctant
to believe that imperialism again
threatened the peace and liberty of
the world. Conviction came to them
at last, and with it prompt action.
The American nationt arrayed itself
with the other great dcmocracics of
the earth against the genius of evil
which broods over the destinies of
Central Europe.
No thought of material gain and
no thought of material loss impelled
this action. Inspired by the highest
motives, American manhood prepared
to risk all for the right. am proud
Of my country. l am proud of my
countrymen. am proud of our ma
tionai character. With lofty purpose.
with patriotic fcrvor, with itense
earnestness the American democracy
has drawn the sword, which il will
not sheathe until the bancful forces
of absolutism go down defeated and
broken
Who can longer doubt-and there
have been many who have doubted
in these critical days-the power of
that eternal spirit of freedom which
lives in every true American heart?
| am firmly convinced that the in
dependence of no nation is safe, that
the liberty of no individual is sure,
until the military despotism which
holds the German people in the hol-
low of tbs hand has been made impo-
tent and harmless forever. Appeals
to justice, to moral obligation, to
honor, no longer avail with such n
power. There is but one way to re-
store peace to the world and that is
by overcoming the physical might of
German imperialism by force of
arms.
For its own safety as we'll as for
the cause Of human liberty this great
Republic is marshaling its armies
and preparing with all it's vigor to
ed in Kidding Germany, as well as
the world, of the most ambitious and
most unprincipled autocracy which
has arisen to stay the wheels of pro-
gress and imperil Christian civilian
ton.
1t is to this great cause that hun
dreds of thousands of loyal Amcri-
cans have dedicated themselves.
These patriots are going forth into
foreign lands, not only as guardians
OF the flag of their country, and of
ire liberties of their countrymcn, but
as guardians of the national honor
of the United States. American char
acter will be judged by their conduct;
American spirit, by their deeds. We
believe and know that they will
bring glory to the flag which we all
love as the emblem of our national
unity and independence.
1t is in the toll nd danger of so
great an adventure rs our soldiers
and sailors arc to experience that n
mans true character will become
manifest. He will be brought face to
face with the realities. The little
things which once cngrosscd his
thought and called forth his ener-
gies will be forgotten in the stern
events of his new life. The stern
ness of it all will not deprive him of
the satisfaction which comes from
dom ghs best. AS he found gratif-
cation and JOY in the peaceful pur-
suits of the old life, so will he find
n deeper qualification and greater
Joy in serving his country loyalty
and doing his part in molding the flu.
ture Alright.
And, when the task is completed.
when the grim days of battle are ov-
CT and the brave men return from
overseas to the quiet life of their
professions or occupations which
they have abandoned at their coun-
trys call, they find in the gratitude
OF their countrymen an ample re-
ward for the great sacrifice which
they have made,
IL enthusiasm and ardor can make
success sure, then we, Americans,
have no cause for anxiety, no reason
to doubt the outcome of the conflict.
But enthusiasm and ardor are not all.
They must be founded on pro-
found conviction of the righteous
ness Of our cause and on an implicit
faith that the God of Battles will
strengthen the arm of him who fights
for the right. In the time of stress
and peril, when man stands face
to- face with death in its most ter
rible forms, God will not desert him
who puts his trust in him. 1t is at
such a time that the eternal verities
VIII be disclosed. 1t is then, when a
man realizes that existence is more