Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-17
WHAT OF the HOUR.
BY MASON e. BRACK MAN.
Editor Independent:

the ways. 1t is time for every citi-
zen who thinks above the degraded
level Of dollars and cents 10 ask
himself, What of the Hour? Whence
have we come? Whittier are we
going? Thomas Jefferson said of
our nation in his time, The la>t
hpc of human liberty rests on us"
That our country was divincly in
Spircd to give liberty and freedom
to the world. no one who reads
history can doubt. Ever since Abra-
ham left his heathen> parents and
under the inspiratin and guidance
of God, sought the Promised Land
to found nation, there has been
an inspiration, somewhere in the
world TO carry on this great work
and push it forward. Gods COM
mand to these ancient people was
to so forward and to do. We see
them fail, pass through Egypt and
the Wilderness; and. then under a
leadership, form the pureSt govern
ment the world had known-that of
the old judicial System of the ISre-
lites. We see them fail, throw a.
side this government and take on
a kingship. which was the very
form Of government they were com
manded TO destroy, not for con-
quest. but that the ancient promise
to Abraham might be fulfilled and
his seed and the purity of the judi
cial government spread to the utter
most parts of the world. They
failed and great has been that fail
urc. AS Il result of that failure the
world has been reeking in blood
ever since. To day the opportunity
confronts the world again as it has
never done since the ancient days
of Israel, when she threw aside her
ancient government by the Judges
for a kingship. That failure was
great. Woe has been in its wake
ever since. A great issue confronts
the world to-day. We have more
people and civilization is more COM
pick. Other nations have followed
the inspiration of the leaders in the
United States. Will the United
States now fail? What of the hour?
We have come thus far. We have
been brought to world leadership
for the good of the world. All the
leading statesmen have been for tho
League OF Nations, Roosevelt, Lodge
the arch traitor himself. and hun
dredS Of others. What shall VIC do?
Will we be strong and 90 forward
or shall we fail? IL is not a matter
OF honest conviction. We know
what Hhe honest conviction was
before and during The war. 1t is
solely The matter of a price. II is
SAID thai every man has his price.
Has the manhood and womanhood
OF our Nation today got a price for
which 1t will sacrifice its duty to
ciVilization. 10 honor. to-posterity;
and to its God?
Why this failure? 1t is simple:
During the war certain interests
made great fortunes out of war con
dftlons. We were SO busy winning
the war that ave had no time 10
curb this fortune making. When
some of the bencficiaries left their
jobs and worked for thcgovernment
noDl worked for the government
at 81 .OO per annum, we hailed them
and praised them for ii. But what
OF the vast fortunes they made
through their business, while as
individuals they were doing this
patriotic act? Compare them with
the boys who went TO the front
Now the thirst has been-created.
IL is get money, nothing but money,
out of a continuance of war. Now
this is Il bold statement, but the
Shylocks behind the man nominal
ed by their agents at the Black
stone Hotel. in Chicago. late one
night during the Republican Con
vcnilon. are bent on one thing, and
mat thing is TO make The United
States the leading waring nation of
The world TO place her where she
Will be forced TO build and maintain
Inc greatest war machine that The
world has ever known. O! for men
OF vision with a voice. with pen
TO carry this message to- the masses
OF the people Of The United States.
hod give us more William Howard
! afis!--mcn of The opposition YET
Dravc enough to say that il would
be hnorablc TO desert ones party
rather than TO see The worlds ideals
ana The worlds hope so down in
defeat. Failure on the part of the
lniicd States TO enter the Lcagrc
OF Nations. and the triumph Of the
policy OF The war lords nlfsour
country mean That civilization is
TO be sci back thousands of years
and that our \alicA is 10 take The
place of Germany as The great mill
Larry power Of The world With
America dominated by the greed of
The makers Of war munitions. with
q few generations Of military train
ing and preparation at The cost of
nlHnN millions and with lhr slnu.-