The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-11


are we fighting today for the same
thing. The 100000 people of that
time have now grown to over 100 mil
lion. Most of our victories have been
peaceful ones. We have invited peo-
pie of other countries to our shores
to enjoy the privileges that were de-
MED them in the land of their birth.
We have grown in a constructive and
humanitarian way and have all
worked hard together that people of
this country might enjoy the benefits
of government by, Of and for the
people.
Prussia began her existence about
1910 with the principally of Branden-
berg. She expanded taking in parts
of adjoining countries, always grow
ing in a destructive manner. Today
she has destroyed Belgium, overrun
Servia, reduced Russia to devas-
tated mass and dominates a country
extending from the North Sea to the
Persian Gulf, a country in which mil
lions of peoples, a country which has
been made to give up its riches that
further conquest might be attempted.
challenge any man to point out one
instance where Prussia has built up,
where one step in the march of CIV
i1izaion has been taken by this power
maddened country.
People oppressed in other countries
seek new fields where they may en-
| joy the right to live. Most of these
people come to the United States.
Prussia has yet to point to one case
where she has inaugurated an uplift-
ing movement it can call it's own.
People in Germany have been taught
that God destined them to rule the
world In order to uphold this teach
ing Germany has bombarded defense
less towns hospitals and churches,
sunk hospital ships, murdered women
and children, laid waste the garden
spots of the world. She has done this
that men may be terrified and Ger
many emerge triumphant from the
battle.
"'1-he sack of ancient Rome was a
IChr1stianlike conquest compared with
the German occupation Of Belgium,
Servia and parts of France today.
Germany, for the first time, has now
felt the shadow of the Giant of the
West across her and for the first time
will taste the power of avenging
right, We have stood for many things
from Germany but conditions grew so
bad that we could stand no more. A
clash was inevitable because of Ger
many's actions.
| Germany tore down the safe
| guards of the United States neutral
stand, broke her promises, violated
the principles of civilization. Her
diplomatic corps forged our state
papers, laid plots to blow up ships
with bombs, wreck our munitions
works and railways, fomented rebel
lion, seized our ships and imprisoned
our sailors, drowned our women and
children and finally stated that the
only right of an American on the seas
was the right to die!
1--WE fought the War of the Revolu-
ton because we were taxed without
representation. What was inflicted
by Great Britain in 1875 was mere
| child's play to the German activities
Of the past two years. To see the
difference between Great Britain and
Germany, compare the condition of
| Canada and that of Belgium. To
sum up in the words of President
Wilson, There is for us but one
| CnO1C6-W0 ,IldN6 II.
| "All principles of humanity are
being violated in the present war by
the Germans. The laws Of God and
man are being treated as though they
were non-existent. The United States
will fight Germany! The United States
will fight Germany to a finish-to
finish on the hills of France or fight
her to a finish in the streets of
Bridgeport. and Washington! Well
fight her over there, or we will fight
| her as Belgium has done, in the sight
| of her smoking homes and bleeding
women and childreni
"You can either subscribe to the
Liberty Loan and help the govern
ment wipe the curse of humanity
from the earth or you can keep your
money and save it to pay the war in
demnity which Germany will demand
If her plan of world dominion is sue
cessful. The glory of the English
speaking man is that he will sacrifice
his life for more things than any other
| race. The people of this country laid
down their lives freely in 1776 on
the altar of Liberty and their de-
scendants will lay down their lives
| Just as freely for the same cause"
The members of Company H, of the
Home Guards acted as an honor
| guard and ushers for the occasion and
| handled the situation in fine man
Fer. The large crowd was handled
with ease. Much credit is given the
police also who took charge of the
waiting lines. The affair was easily
| the greatest ever attempted in Bridge
port and no little credit should be
given the War Bureau which had
charge of the meeting.
During the course of the talks by
Acknowledgement Gregory and Justice
Wheeler, they laid particular stress
upon the stand of organized labor in
this country at the present time. Both
! speakers paid a tribute to Samuel
| Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, as is head and
as man, who is in close contact
with the President of the United
| States. Acknowledgement Gregory
stated that it is becoming more and
more realized the importance of or
ganized labor and he predicted that
after the war labor would come into
| it's own.
Prior to the rally last night Justice
Wheeler entertained at his home the
following: United States District At
torney-General Gregory, Governor
Mccall, NJ. B. Beardsley, c. G. San
ford, Walter B. Lashar, Mayor Cliff
ford B. Wilson, Bradford D. Pierce,
Jr.. James G. Ludlum, William R.
webster and William T Hincks.