The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-04-11
JOHN /. LEWIS
ADDRESS T0'|
THE:.E.S0LD|ERS
Minot Attorneys Remarks to the
Ward County Boys Who Left Re-
Gently Were to the Point.

The following is the address deliv-
cred by Attorney John H. Lewis to
the young men from the selective
draft, who left recently for Camp
Dodge, Iowa. 1t is we'll worth read
ing:
Mr.. Chairman, Soldiers, Fellow Citi-
ZenS:
The chairman has introduced me as
a blue-bellied Yankee, but Pm not, you
know. l come from an immigrant
family just like Palda and Erickson;
the only difference is that we caught
an earlier boat. We were here be
fore American independence, and have
fought to preserve it, but we aren't
old settlers by long way; the real
original inhabitant is down there or
the reservation. The big thing about
America is that it isn't blood that
makes an American, it is the Ameri-
can spirit. Liberty, justice and or
der; obedience to the law, and freedom
within the law, are bulwarks Of Ameri-
can institutions. Made up as we are
from many peoples, we are broadcr
nation than if ave were descended all
from one blood. The man whose an
cestors have lived here for generations
but who has not the spirit to defend
our institutions, is not an American.
/ The man who comes over here to make
money, and send it back across the
water, who does not even take out
citizenship papers, is not an American.
The man who has come over here, liV-
ed under our institutions, become i'm
bued with our spirit, whose heart beats
with loyalty to that f1ag-he is a true
! American.
You boys are receiving one Of the
greatest honors our country can bes-
tow; you are being sent to the front
| to fight for it, Some people would
tell you that volunteer stands high
err than a drafted man. Never be-
but the man who stands forth and
says: 'T have duties many ways; my
country is bigger than l, and knows
best. stand here ready for her to
assign me to my job, and to answer
any call she makes. that man is
taking the right attitude, and doing
his duty to his country. Of course
we should have no use for man who
tried to shirk military service. Our
gratitude to our country would be
small if we were not willing to die for
it, To you belongs the honor of the
front line; we older men back here are
going to support you while you are
fighting. And say to you citizens
of Minot; if there is any among you
who is not willing to go the limit
to support these boys, who is not will
ing to make any sacrifice, to pay out
the last dollar in his picket, to use his
last bit of energy in producing food
and ships, that man is not true
American.
In the old days, before this war
set us to thinking deeply, we used to
make the eagle scream on the Fourth
Of July. and to talk great deal about
the glory of America, but not much
about Americas duty. The war has
walked us up. Those who enjoy what
we have enjoyed have a duty to the
country as large as the benefits we
have received from her. The Russi-
ans broke down, lost their spirit,
clamored for rest, made dishonorable
peace. Can we blame them? Kept
in subsection for centuries, unframed
in the lessons of liberty, not allowed
to think, could you expect anything
from them but failure? The Ger
mans have made themselves the scorn
of the world by their actions in this
war. Is it to be wondered at? Train
ed under the shadow of the iron heel,
TAUGHT from childhood to worship the