Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-07-03
.ationNowCa11s
on AnPatriots
BY HAPsBURo LlEeE
Of tho Vioilantes.

American years badge of In.
dependence and Liberty, the
Day that should mean to us much the
same as q real Christmas-and the
Day that too many of us have hereto.
fore dragged through the cheap mire
OF loud noises and spread-eagleism I
And now we stand in no small danger
OF losing forever the glorious old
Fourth to the Prussian legions. 1t is
a fact, and not calamity howl. I
tell you, it is q fact.
We have three distinct classes of
Fourth Observers in this big and good
natured, easy-going, still half-asleep
nation Of ours. There is the class that
drowses the day away; the class that
spends the Day either in joyriding or
In making great noises; and the class
that looks upon the Fourth as the sa-
cred day it is. It was this latter
named class that made the Fourth;
is keeping the Fourth; and will contin-
ue to keep the Fourth, God willing.
If these patriots can only get the help
OF all the people we shall keep the Day
of Independence as long as time lasts
We do stand in danger of losing this
Day and all it means, tell you most
solemnly. The distance between US
and Prussia has given us a false feel
ing Of security. Man, there is no dis
lance now! Germany is at our elbows.
Germany is right here with cunning
spies and incendiaries, and cut-throat
propagandists. Let me state this to
you, brother American; there are men
of no small Importance in things, here
in the United States, who are secretly
working for Germany in the stout be-
lief that Germany will win in the end.
Foolish, you say? Unspeakable, insult
ferable, perhaps; but hardly foolish.
Germany is not yet whipped in Eu-
rope. If Germany finally wins in Eu-
rope; if Germany breaks and rolls up
the allied lines-that which will fol-
low will surely take your breath away.
Never, never was there dreamed of
such colossal reign of horror as that
which would follow a final Prussian
victory in Europe.
Man, man, we mustn't lose our
Fourth. 1t is our most sacred her.
ttage; we must keep it and all it stands
for, though the last drop Of our blood
goes to pay the price. We can keep
1t, 1t only we wake to the great ne
cessity that confronts US now. II we
lose it, it will be the fault of the slack
ers among us. Our biggest difficulty
is that wooden-headed, unfounded con-
fdence we've got in George-in leaving
it to the other fellow. Don't for a min.
ute think we've got only a ''bit" to do j;
no; we must do all we can!
Generally speaking, we've been mild
~ patriotic so far. The average per-
son Of us has really given little, has
suffered little save the Inconvenience
caused by food and fuel situations.
We must back up the army and navy,
through our government, better than
we have been doing. Remember, poor
George can't-possibly do all there is
to do! If we don't help Gee rye, the
other fellow, George is going into the
hands of the Black Beast of Kultur.
And If we don't help George, it would
serve us right if the Spiked Helmet
did get us-but wouldn't it be hell for
George? Poor old George. God bless
that patriotic, overburdened man.
Let's help him, you and I; let's keep
the Fourth as our own Day Of Inde-
pendence. I can imagine no greater
remorse of conscience than to look
backward, after these bitter years that
be upon us now, and have to say to
myself this:
'"This Liberty is not mine. I did
nothing to help. Nothing. Nothing."
God save the Fourth of July, and
make 1t immortal! God must save it
for US If only all the people will help
Him and George. We pay for what
we get. 1t is the oldest law. If Lib
erty is ours, we must pay for it.