The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-02-04
Continued from page u


welfare.
Shall grateful republic say we
are boastful to make reference to
these achievements that will not
alone be beneficial to those of this
day but will live after US? Will "A
thoughtful and grateful constituency
turn and strike the hand that enacted
Tor them laws they asked for, needed
and deserved? No, I cannot believe
1t, L do not believe it, 1t bellies the
traditions of Americans II allowed to
say that they would turn and strike
the hand that is responsive to them,
that helped them, that gave them
what they wanted
No, these and, aye, many times
more are but a few OF the features
Of legislation that was enacted by the
democratic party during the first four
years of our return to power. Should
/ elect to recite them all it would
require scroll wider than the uni
verse to write them on and all time
TO recite them,
Democracy and the World War
When America entered the war
- April 1917, she was without
erchant marine, without an air
corps, with but u partially adequate
navy, without armament and in
state OF unpreparedness. The great
teeming republic had been building
homes, hospitals, bank accounts and
fortunes and had given little heed
TO military preparation. They had
loved peace, they had hated war, they
had preferred to spend their revenue
for the good things Of the world rath-
er than the destruction of the world.
The great, drowsy, sleeping republic
was not yet aroused to the fact that
this nation was in the midst Of war.
Little had the American people
thought that war would be thrust
upon them. Few of them were aware
that 1875 merchant ships had been
sent to the bottom without warning,
without hope and without u chance.
Little had they thought and little had
had they knew that 26 nations Of the
earth had entered the war; that the
sea was being crossed by the execu-
tive order OF the tyrant, who was
seeking first to crush the world, ana
then to conquer it. The task OF the
great democratic party, then in full
control of the government, became
mountain high, monstrous, unfathom-
able, unbelievable.
The question that wells up in tho
minds Of every thoughtful American
is
Can a republic like this one, gov
erned by the consent Of the govern
ed rise to the occasion of making
defense against such a foe. Can
Gkiion conceived in liberty, freedom
o& speech, thought and action rise 70
make defense against the enemy VINO
then had 100000 trained hordes
under the colors and in reserve IN
action making actual war by every
conceivable and damnable scheme
known to history-what was Amerl'
cas- answer, what was Democracy $
answer, what was the Nations ans
wer?
The nation answered in words loud
and clear We will raise the greatest
army of all history and We dld--We
will raise the mightiest air service
OF history we did. We will trans
port our men across the sea, despite
the submarines and the dangers Incl
dent thereto we did. we viii Trans
port food to the starving allies VINO
are seeking to preserve the peace on
the world we did. we will furnish
arms and armament to these without
Them to the end that democracy anu
tree government may live and the
patriotic, loyal and free government
NAV not welter in it's own blood anu
vanish fro mthe earth. We Will turn
,he tide of battle against the German
hordes. we will stop the on-ruslins
tide of success, bring order Out ot
chaos, bring victory out OF ueieat
a,ntil democracy and free government
will be as imperishable to history
and to mankind as 1t was in the Gays
of the Revolution when our forerath'
ers died that we might be free.
"If History tells the truth, as we
Know it will, it must Of necessity
write that the mightiest army of all
history was raised within a shorter
time than the dreamer dreamed Oh
Than the historian wrote OF, or the
puet sang.
The Truth History Will Tell
.If History writes the truth, as
we know it will, it must tel 'ha'
AIherica amassed the greatest navy
the greatest merchant marine, the
greatest air craft, the greatest 1heui'
cal corps. the greatest ampulaice
corps and the greatest nursing corps
that over trod the path Of time
"If history tells the truth, the truth
as we know it will. historians must
write that America turned the uue
of battle, brought the flag home III
victory, not in defeat, brought set
fled conditions out Of chaos, preserved
The liberty Of man and free govern.
,uent OF the world and placed Duui
on tyranny, not only on those ina,
live today but for those VINO Will
come after us.
shall we say we are boasttul, us
n nation, to claim that HISTORY wa,
write of US as the unworthy sons VI
roble sires? Shall we say that i1ls.
,orv will record our inefficiency, All
o,r unworthiness? Shall we say thfLe
,,ictorv will write that the people
Of a great republic like this one
founded upon the consent of the gov
erned. are not able in time OF stress
N defend themselves, to preserve our
institutions and traditions.
"No History cannot trnth1uliy
,,,ite such a page--no historian VIII
ever desire to write such page NO
grateful and patriotic nation VIII pol.
..o epcb n mage written, iOT W