Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-05

Under a republican form of govern
ment like this, there never can be but
two classifications of its citizens in
time of war-those who are for the
government, and those who are
against the government. Loyalty
then cannot be matter of percent
age. You cannot be SO per cent loyal
The poison of disloyalty is so venom
Gus and contagious, that you must be
either all red, white and blue. or all
yellow.
This Government = this United
States-exists and has grown great
because of the spirit of its founders
and its citizens in patriotic and loyal
devotion to the principles of liberty
and freedom. With half-hearted con-
viction and a lingering doubt in the
possibility of a governing people
there could have been no United
States of America.
All questions leading up to the
Civil War were incidental to the great
overshadowing issue of whether this
should be and continue a Nation, or
was mere confederation of states
from which there could be withdrawal
at will
AS a Nation, it was inevitable that
slavery must CO. since the Nation
could not continue half free and half
slave, but even so vital a question
in the real issue of the war, became so
incidental, that the proclamation of
emancipation was invoked only as.
war measure. With the great prin-
ciple ofNatiOnal Unity accepted slave
ry could still have been abolished
without blood shed and financial loss.
There was bitter difference as to how
the overshadowing issue could best be
met and solved, but when the crisis
came there could be but two classi-
tcatiOns of its peOple-those who were
for the Government and those who
were against the Government-and for
the solution of that issue, son was
arraigned against father, brother
against brother, and men died and
women suffered, that this Nation
should not perish from the Earth,
and Freedom and Liberty continue a
blessed heritage. Men still differed
as to methods and means but on that
one vital question the dividing line
was not one of party politics and the
war democrat was on par with the
war republican in loyal service to the
Flag.
Except that the issue is Worldwide,
the vital question for us is not so much
different, and whether this Nation
shall live and Freedom and Liberty
continue as our blessed heritage, will
be answered either by Victory or De-
feat. No enduring settlement can be
arrived at, no permanent peace can be
achieved while arrogant autocraey
maintains its powers by bristling
ornaments to thwart the inalienable
Rights of man to Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness. A truce would
be but temporizing for a renewal of
conflict for which it would be furnish
ing breathing spell. For lasting ben
eficial effect, this war must end only
in absolute overwhelming victory over
autocracy and militarism whatever be
the cost in blood and human sacrifice
This does not mean a hatred of a peo-
pie, but it does and must mean the
death of thing of evil.
For a man born in one of the coun-
tries of the Central Powers, and who
having foresworn allegiance to its
sovereign and become a naturalized
American, and to many of such de-
scent-this crisis imposes even a
greater responsibility. From such as
they, must come such clean and clear
Loyalty that no hatred may continue
after thr war against a people from
which they derive ancestry or descent.
After the war every such people will
largely be judged by the Loyalty here
shown by their kindred by ancestry or
descent. If they have not during this
crisis of their adopted country given
open whOle-hearted Loyalty there will
grow up among Americans a lasting
doubt and suspicion, difficult to erad-
icate by argument or pleasant pro-
fessiOns in time of peace. If they fail
in times that try American souls, they
will continue yellow in time of peace
and the country and its people from
which they spring will be here de-
nounced and eXecrated for years and
years to come. No true American
has or will preach the doctrine of hate
but we must not forget that this
United States has been the haven OF
the oppressed and the land of oppor-
tunity, where welcome was extended
with open arms and every right and
privilege freely given. With those
rights and privileges was coupled
equal duty and obligation-andt to fail
in these is to fail in everything right
thinking men prize most highly.-fol
such failure is reasonable disloyalt!
to the Land that shared with you it,