Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12
The Slacker's Punishment.
10 the Editor Of The Star:

10 the Editor Of The Star:
In these days. when men are begin
ming to come back from the front we find
among them some who enlisted early
in the war, who did not wait for the
draft, who wanted to be in it even be-
fore America awakened to her respon-
sibilty, and in the light of what these
men have to say, how contemplate APP
pears the Stacker. when all the agony
and sacrifice and unspeakable heroism
the finger of scorn.
In reading reports of the very large
percentage of men successfully" pass
ing the exemption boards one cannot
but question how many of tLeee are
exempt in the highest moral sense, ac-
cording to that unwritten law of
broader citizenship and solidarity
which embraces the world. This is a
responsibility to which some day each
must answer for himself, for no civil
law can act as substitute for mans
conscience. and there will always seem
to be found ready aids to support a
compromise and shield an evasion.
But truth will out. If a man is dodg-
ing this responsibility; if. through ma
nipulation and quiet influence, he OBJ
tains safe" commission: if he hides
behind position, behind a false plea of
draft found him, physically fit and un-
disturbed, and perhaps marries to
clinch the deal. how does he feel in his
heart and what shall be said of him
There is but one name which fitly ap-
plies. and that name may safely be left
for him to apply to himself when he
awakens sufficiently to realize where
he stands.
The men who have traded the treas
ures and possessions of home and peace
for . inn, RI ptf.. Il No md
war. with all that war means. are truly
the fortunate Of their nation. for they
are learning the true meaning OF serv-
ice. and have pledged themselves to
the triumph of principle in the affairs
OF men. and to the support of that
standard which will eventually mean
! for all the world the fulfillment Of the
promises through obedience.
When the spiritual possibilities OF
men shall have won this warfare be-
tween good and evil. between right and
might, between materiality and an
ideal there shall be no greater glory
Of utter self-sacrifice which shall rest
upon all those, lost or living, who
shared in this fight for freedom The
men who have stood in the front line
trenches. the men who have filled the
gaps at the cost Of their lives the men
| who have met the enemy face to face
and displayed the superhuman endur-
ance which comes only from spiritual
| courage-these are the men whom the
world will crown true kings, indeed.
who are already crowned. and these are
the men. lost or living. who will reap
| reward which cannot be approached
or even comprehended by the Stacker
and the moral coward.
The man who has thought so much of
self as to forget or ignore the strain
upon that living wall which. during
these four years. has stood with I'M
| imaginable heroism between him and
the tyrant-tbat man will have no
, share in the glory which shall be re-
vealed" when the great struggle is
over. He will have no share in the
| worlds hard-won liberty. because he
will be still slave to his own self.
with his battle still to fight. and the
longer he waits the harder that fight
| will be. He will not be able to com
| prehend the meaning of the world-war,
| the meaning of the victory to be- nor
| the meaning of the willing service tina t
won that victory He will be in dark :
| ness. moral darkness. in the midst of
| the worlds new light, and this will he
| his punishment. Surely this Is punish
ment enough. VERA ID. ADAMS,