Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-12


April 6, 1917, November II,
1918.
'Fateful days-nineteen months
and five days between. The one
marked the beginning of war. The
other marked the end of the hostili-
ties. The world was the field. the
future of the world to be determined
by the gauge of the battle. In the
brief time between the two DAYS the
greatest republic of the world train
ed to peace, resOrting to war in its
whole history only when compelled
by necessity or constrained by the
advocacy of the highest principles of
humanity, modified a trained army
OF more than four million, transport
ed across the seas more than two
million soldiers, took its position with
other great nations and by force of
It's arms and the moral power of its
one hundred millions behind its ar
my, became the contributing factor
which silenced the guns of all Eu-
rope.
"Why did we fight? Was it to
save ourselves? Yes. but not to
save ourselves alone. The call to
arms did not have in its summons an
appeal to selfishness. There was
nothing base in the war cry. It's
sound was noble It's note was
iidealistic. All nations, all peoples are
IN peril. The foundation of all free
governments is under attack. The
call to arms was responded to, not
to save ourselves, but to save all,
IN order that we might thereby be
saved. A paraphrase of the words
OF a great Georgian will aptly de-
crlbe the motive and impulse that
carried US into war. He who saves
all nations, saves his own country.
saves himself, and all peoples saved
do bless him. He who lets all ma
tons die, lets his own country die.
dies himself ignobly, and ali men
dying do curse him. The greater
number in all the land responded in
every way that demand war made
or opportunity offered for service
or sacrifice.
Marvellous Response
For people of peaceful pur-
suits, of peaceful inclinations, yea,
lovers and propagandists of peace,
the promptness and readiness of re-
spouse to the war cry was remark
able, not to say marvellous. Before the
draft young men of all caIlings and
professions volunteered. After the
draft young men, impatient of the
slow working of the draft, volunteer
ed. Those who were so situated that
for them to await the call of the
draft was no reflection upon their
loyalty or patriotism, responded to
the call of the draft with the ardor
and enthusiasm of those who had
preceded them in the service. Moth
ers encouraged their sons to go, and
wives their husbands. The inspiring
words of woman were in the ear of
every soldier, and woman's cry of
shame chilled the soul of every slack
er. Old men, women, children at
home, not from choice, but from ne
cessity, made every sacrifice of com
fort, pleasure, and even of food, and
with buoyant spirit performed every
sacrifice that age and condition
would permit They were the army
behind the army. They lost no OBJ
portunity to let those who were
gone feel and know that those who
were left behind followed those who
were away with their prayers and a
vow of dedication to the service of
those who were absent.
"Never was army or navy engaged
in such service with such idealistic
motives, never a people raised to
such idealistic aspirations. Well an
piled was the holy name of Crusaders
to Pershing's men.
During all this time, when our as
pirations were the highest, our de-
sires were the loftiest. our emotion
moved to the deepest, there was one
voice that sounded above all, heard
around the world, proclaiming that
we fight, not acquire from others,
but to enable others to have that
which they were justly entitled to;
not to destroy but to save, for peace,
enduring peace among all the ma
tons.
Tribute to Wilson
1T was this voice that called our
soldiers and sailors to service at
home and abroad, and all the people
to service in the cause which had as
it's foundation the most worthy OF
motives. 1t was this voice that in
spired our fighters and animated the
rest of us to cheer and support
those who went to battle.
"My friends, you know the voice.
1t could be none other than the voice
of Woodrow Wilson. Above the
tumult of contrary sounds manufac-
tured for a purpose, the voice of
Woodrow Wilson still sounds in the
ear of every true American who has
not been deceived or misled.
"The holv cause to which he dedi-
Gated his life, still lives. Though his
body be stricken and his limbs refuse
to perform their function, his brain
remains clear and his soul in its in
spiration is as pure and as noble as
it was wher we followed him as a
leader through the privation, sacrifice
and death which war entails. There
are those of us in this broad land
who followed him in war, followed
him in his efforts for peace, who will
follow him in the remaining months of
his public service and into retirement,