Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-11-14
November II, 1918 And 1919.

The march Of men. the shrek Of SHE'LL
the smoke of canon and then-November
18th; contOnments, camps. hospitals and
then November 18th; ships, planes, tanks,
submarines and then November 18th; tears,
wounds. blood and graves-then the 18th
of November. Did we expect itS Were
we prepared for it Did we understand 1t
No 1t will take the seers of other ages to
unravel and explain the 18th hour of the
18th day of the 18th month of old 1918. A
year has passed since, in type big bold,
black. we read, in accordance with the
terms Of the armistice, hostilities on the
front of the American armies were sus-
pended at II O'Clock this morning." Yes
year has passed. What do we read to-
day. In that same big. bold, black type
we read. Miners chiefs in solemn council
consider defyina courts" and this year,
following upon the days when men tried
bravely to do, dare or die in order that
Democracy. equality and peace might be
established in the world this year has
yielded crop of boodshed, tears. travail
of soul and shipwreck of society unparal-
leled in the annals of the country. The
boys who have returned from "Over There"
have said, us this what we fought forY"
The graves of those who sleep in France
and Flanders ask. rs this what we died
forG ?" On one page of New York paper
this year there appeared notice of rail-
way strike in Boston, Of a shipping strike
in New York, of tie-up Of an electric
railway from Webster to New Haven, of
strike of $4,000 railway employees in
Chicago. strike of 5000 workers of the
International Harvester in Chicago. and a
lockout of 100000 workers in the building
trades, and of strike ballot to be under
taken by twenty-four unions affiliated in
the Steel Industry. Is this the natural.
normal or right heritage of all which was
done in the name of Democracy Is this
the Democracy we would give to the world
Prices soar, race riots shock. crime sickens
and problems stupefy us.
November 18th comes again. Is it not
time to stop, look and listen Have not
many of the real virtues, ideals needs been
camoufaged Have not many, while they
praised patriotism, practiced profteeringH
And while they plead for liberty merely
desired license 1t is an axiom with us
that the flag must not touch or trail the
Had
stands trail their honor in the dust or dirt
of selfshness and sin? II it be true, as
Plato said, that virtue in the State is sim
ply individual virtue writ large. then it is
high time for every individual to take
stock of his own virtues and vices. America
can be no bigger or better than her citizens
Benjamin Franklin started out to practice
one virtue week for thirteen weeks, re-
peating the whole process four times
year. We want something even better
than that. We do not need Simon Styl-
ties who will live his virtues high in the
air on a pillar, or even John Bunyan's
Christian who will attain virtue by fleeing
The man of today must neither live in the
air or fly away. but take a stand like Paul,
steadfast. immovable. for the right. The
Declaration Of Independence affirms certain
'inaienable rights" and. as Washington
declared. raises "a standard to which the
wise and the good can repair" in any age
Man has power Of recuperation, restora-
ton and recovery. Let the noble man
hood and womanhood Of America rise in
their might and majesty while it is yet
day" and show. not only say ; give, not
only guess act, not only advise; do. not
only dream; become, not only befog the
ideal for which wounded world lies groan-
ing and erasping in order to start life over
again. God grant that when another nth
of November comes we, the trustees Of the
rights, heritaees and honor of millions yet
unborn. will look with faces unashamed
and hearts that condemn us not, upon the
work OF our hands, exclaimin9, 1T Is fin
ished-a safe. sane and working Demo-
cracy has been given the sons Of men"
P. ROWLAND WAGNER.
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