The Delta independent., 1918-05-10
HOW THE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT
GROWS

How many of us stop to think Of the
great changes that have taken place in
the sentiment of the people of the
United States during the past year.
1t is well worth our while to face
backward for an hour and review the
events Of the early days of our coun-
'try's entry into the worlds great war,
1t may possibly lead to greater mem
tai charity and possibly at times give
Justice a chance to assert ITSELF
None can honestly say that President
Wilson was not exceedingly loath to
take the step that SO many dreaded.
no longer endure the insults of the
uncivilized German Empire with honor
did he call congress in session and
nail "Old Glory" to the mast head
where 1t will remain till the end of
time. the brightest emblem of liberty
and Democracy that was ever kissed
by the bright sunshine of truth and
liberty.
The president did not like war. He
opposed it until the last hope was gone
and he knew that the military powers
of Germany had gone war mad and the
fate of civilization rested in the hands
of the United States. Then came the
months of patient, yet persistent effort
to educate our people-some think pat
fence was even too greatly exercised
to arouse the patriotic spirit that had
so long slept in the sweet assurance
that our country was safe from foreign
foe and NEEDED no preparedness. no
military training, no soldiers or equip
ment no more navy.
| believe that more than eighty per
cent of our people were opposed to
war-not from lack of patriotism. but
because they could not realize Ger
many's brutal ambition.
Who has forgotten Henry Ford's
peace expedition? He was a pacifist
for the same reason that others were
enactive. He was only one of the many
who have today learned the truth
and are bending their every energy
TO backing the government to win the
war. They have learned the truth and
their loyalty is beyond question.
Do you remember the first draft?
Can you recall the feeling that then
existed so generally? Mothers were
not giving their boys up with the feel
ing that inspired the mothers of '76
nor we're the boys unanimously willing
to respond to the call to duty. Those
were the dark days of liberalization;
with few exceptions none outside of
our national capital knew the serious
condition confronting our nation and
we assumed that there could be no
storm when we could see no clouds.
As we look back over these quickly
moving months we see how little we
knew of the Kaiser and his advisers.
How little we realized his sordid ambi-
tion, the treacherous, brutal nature of
the German Empire. 1t was something
too inhuman for the American mind to
grasp and only the test of time and
the cruel experience that has been
brought home to us has it become pos
sible to believe that the awful truths
tina. united our nation in its old time
spirit OF patriotic, liberty loving people
ready to die for the principle that gave
a will =: xzis vbgkq cmfwy bgkqj
birth to a nation. Now there is not
only willingness on the part of our
boys to follow the colors to victory or
death, but a pride in the heart of the
mothers that God in his wisdom gave
her a son. strong. keen. noble and will
ing and she gives him to the cause
with prayers for his safety and conf
dence in the power of right over might
that will save the world for liberty de-
mocracy. justice and finally peace. pros
perity and happiness for all mankind.
We cannot prevent the dark clouds
of sorrow that will make heavy hearts
in many homes and the tears that will
fall as we read in the death lists of
our loved ones who have given their
lives that the glorious sunshine of a
universal oneness shall follow, yet we
know that every tear will be diamond
in the crown of worlds great demo
eracy. ID. CLINT ASHMuN