The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-07-19
"CO ON OR
GO UNDER"
BY Ross L. Hammond

(Mr. Hammond was . member Of party
Of fourteen who went to Europe in Octo.
Der and returned about December L.. VI
fIsss: The party were guests Of the Brit
tsh. French. and Belgian Govsrnments
Sf q: s o hss.
and down the battle lines and wNs shown
many other official courtesles. Mr.. Ham
wssEiy Tribune Of Fremont. Nab. and y
filling many public speaking engagements
At the present tims)
Premier Lloyd George never coined
truer epigram than that I'VE must
90 on or 90 under"
How the war 10 going on" can bs
understood. even In part. only by
those who have been near to it. which
privilege l recently had. That it 10
the most colossal tragedy In human
history 10 proved by . glance at any
phase Of 1t.
Americas part in the struggle II be.
ing performed because America can
not avoid 1t. Autocracy is running
amuck and We stand In its road.
Either It stalks triumphant over ell
that We have been taught to hold
sacred and dear or We and those with
" slay the dragon from whose red
jaws blood 10 dripping. We and 1t
cannot live in the world together.
have seen England. France ana
Belgium battling with the beast. Now
my own country II sending ito mon
into the fray and the effort and the
sacrifices that are being made abroad
will soon be witnessed here. We may
not see hero the actual fighting. Lot
u hope not. But We cannot escape
the other appalling features.
England is vindicating her tradi-
tions and her ideals. She 10 not fight
ing for territorial expansion. This is
by no means as vital or essential to
her as IL proof of the binding nature
Of her compacts. The preservation
Of Belgian neutrality drew her into
tho struggle. For this her soldiers
steamed up ready for the master
stroke; for this her women are work
ing in field and factory and are pour
Ing out their merciful ministrations
In innumerable hospitals.
France is making the great sacri-
flee. Paris. which sets the styles for
the werld. 10 wearing black a. q sym.
boil Of sorrow. and the world is adopt
ing It, for all the world 10 mourning.
But Paris and France. though In tears.
are not without hope. They are look
ing eagerly forward to victory. whom
the invading Huns are driven from
French soil and the lost provinces Of
Alssce and Lorraine will be restored
to their rightful. owners. The coming
Of the American troops has given
them new courage. With unexampled
Bravery they are holding the line un-
I'll the strength of America can be
hurled against the foe. The republic
6till echoes with the wild acclaim
given to General Pershing and his ex-
speditionary force. It will be mighty
task for the United States to measure
up to French expectations.
Riding as I recently did up sud
down the whole battle front in France
and Flanders, I saw much Of the sui.
ering France has heroically endured.
Her ruined cities and towns, her de-
vastated territory. her dead soldiers.
her outraged women, her tortured
children, all cry out for vengeance.
Every reported atrocity Of the Ger
man army II true, and very much
more. l got much evidence from eye
witnesses Of unspeakable barbarities.
All the waters Of the seven seas can
never wash away the foul stains.
In Belgium. at a reception given by
King Albert, asked Ambassador
Brand whitlock what word could be
fxken back to the people Of America.
He said: ut is difficult to put It in
q word, but this is to be said Of the
Germans: they disregard every sent.
rasnt Of honor and integrity, every
hing We hold sacred and dear. They
have violated with utter impunity
eyery agreement I have ever made
ykfth thsm." TIE conclusion from
fhis and q flood Of other like testi-
fnony 10 that I'VE must 90 on or 60
dnder," No compromise or settlement
with the Hohenxollerns will be more
than = scrap Of paper" The United
States has one supreme duty at this
hour. That II to furnish the money
and the man power to defeat the arch
enemy OF. liberty and Of the peace Of
the world.