The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-24

ton composed OF people who believe
themselves to be supermen clothed
with Godgiven mission to conquer
the world; people led by a rules who
believes as fully as Mohammed baliev-
ed II. and with the same wea pom. to-
wit. the sword.
IF such a nation, imbued with such
/ Ideas and LED by such leaders wing this
war against the united armies of the
world what becomes OF international
law, and what becomes OF the principle
that independent states are equal In
rightv They cease to be except per-
hAps in books. They have no reason
for existence. when G single nation
dominates the world and that a nation
which recognizes no law except the
law OF eelf-interest and has no motto
except that might makes right And
what does the disappearance OF inter
national law from the earth mean7 II
means that no nation can ever again
trust another: II means that truth and
honor and good faith are TO cease to
exist so far as International relations
are concerned. From the hour of that
victory treaties will become in very
truth mere scraps of paper. OF no use
except to deceive the unwary and pre-
pare pitfalls for the gullible. Nat onal
honor Will be no more. II, one nation
plays the game of diplomacy with
loaded dice others must DO the same
| II they would live as independent ma
tions. This means worldwide mill
tarisfn. worldwide spying and plotting,
worldwide hatred and distrust II
means that every state must become
military camp and every people an
organized army II means that war
becomes the chief bushes Of man.
kind. X means that no small state
can survive. especially IL II be an egri-
cultural state. only the state which
| possesses the necessary mineral w~aIth
and manufacturing genius SO that il
can furnish itself with armament and
war material from It's own resources
mas any chance TO live. II means that
the mad race in ornaments on sea and
lana will continue with greatly in
creased speed. II means a world In
which fear of ones neishbor reiwns
supreme and revenge becomes the en-
crossing thought OF the nations. II
means In all likelihood a succession Of
wars resulting finally in the triumph
/ or great military Prussianized EN-
ptre of which all other states, in
Guiding this our own republic shall be
dependencies or submissive slaves
! Facing this, the most tremendous
challenge TO human liberty in history.
choice possible to nation OF freemen,
and we must not fail. We might have
said, as said the rich man In scripture.
Soul. take thine ease, thou hast much
goods laid up for many years; eat
drink, and be merry but thank God.
we chose the better part. We have
laid our all upon our country's altar;
we have made the great decision. We
have put aside ease and luxury and
Ep ~ @&
contest for humanity and liberty RACES,
and so long as the issue hangs trernb-
ling In the balance. We are not, and
never have been, n nation OF towards
We have become prosperous and veal
thy but we have not lost our manhood
and we have not forgotten how to fght|
for human freedom. We know that
It means hardships and self denial and
sacrifice, not merely for the soldier
at the front. but for tho patriot at
home, but these things must not and
shall not move US. We remem Der
that we are the sons of the men who.
hungary and ragged, fought for eight
long years against the greatest EN-
pire In the world to obtain freedom for
themselves and for us their children
we have pledged ourselves to be
worthy OF our heritage. and God help
Ing us we will keep the pledge,
me spirit or the men who fought
at Ficksburg and Gettysburg and
.Chickamauga, whether they were the
Div" or the gray whether they sang
." or the "Star-Spangied Banner"
the spirit OF these men I say, on which
ever side they fought, still lives, and
their sons and grandsons have gone
forth side by side and shoulder to
shoulder to show the world not only
that Americans love liberty but they
will die for II IL need be. America win
not. she cannot. look backward. She
will fight freedoms fight and she will
keep the faith. She has never vet
failed in a struggle for human liberty
and now atsthis fatefui hour, when.
with dauntless spirit, she IL entering
upon the greatest OF freedoms battles.
bearing with her the hopes the fears.
and the prayers of humanity itself. she
cannot fail"