The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-04
LEST WE FORGET"

When our forefathers were fight
ing against the tyranny of an English
king, Lord Chatham, the elder Pitt,
spoke in the house of lords and the
eloquence of Edmund Burke rang in
the house of commons, against the
war on the American colonies.
In the long, long wars prosecuted
by Pitt, the younger, as prime minis :.
ter of England, against Napoleon
hundreds of speeches were made in
parliament for cessation of hostilities.
Such is the liberty of English
statesmen. So it was during their
Boer war, within the memory of many
of US. So it was until the fateful day
that war was declared on Germany
in 1914; when cabinet officers lmmed-
lately resigned and a new cabinet was
formed, yet no man was discredited
for resigning.
1t must be said as a splendid tribute
| to the intelligence of the English
people that, as liberty loving nation,
/ ilO Statesman mas SNCI
been rebuked by them for such free
dom of speech and action.
Benjamin Harvey Hill and Alexan-
der H. Stephens, of Georgia, Trusten
Polk of Missouri, Wade Hampton of
South Carolina, John Minor Bolts and
A H. Stuart of Virginia, and many
other Southern men pied with their
people in opposition to our terrible
civil war until the hopeless hour of
fratricidal combat. These are proud
names in Southern history.
So it was then in the North that
many splendid men stemmed until the
last the swelling tide for war.
Never, after the smoke of battle
cleared away, was any such man re-
buked by his people.
Is is essential to the life of all free
people that their statesmen be per-
mitted to oppose until the last hour
any declaration of war without any
fear of punishment thereafter for
such opposition.
l IhiS 10 tIlC PIOuu OOdSt VI l0iiO
and America, while other hapless ma
, tons have led such statesmen to the
guillotine, or the Tarpeian rock.
Judge of the nations, spare US yet
"Lest we forget, lest we forget"
1t may be of small Importance and
lpassing interest to our people whether
Bryan, or Trammell, will sit in the
Senate for the next few years, but we
must not forget principles on which
rest our hope for a continuance Of
free government.
| am .astonished that some of oul
press and intelligent citizens ar,
heard to say, in substance, that the.
will not support Bryan because h
j. quit Wilson's cabinet in the face O.
war with Germany.
Now the facts are that Bryan qui
S the cabinet in June 1915 and in 1911
e made many speeches for the re-elec
y ton of Wilson on the platform, al
/ kept US out of war;" and was not no
al declared until April, 1917.
A1GSI InS SuSCSSS1ui CdIlpdlSh 1
1916, on this platform, it is not re
1t corded that Bryan ever said wor
l. to embarrass Wilson in dealing wit
Germany.
Is Senator Trammell's published state
"a ment- of the 28th inst, may sugge.
J. the key which unlocks the riddle {
my establishment, for l infer from h
r statement that the state is infeste
IN with Pennsylvanians and republican
E. all of whom are bent upon fraud an
deception, and perhaps from the:
same mendacious sources come thes
reports that Bryan quit the cabinet
Id the face of war with Germany.
re Be that as it may, my friends,
lg the sporting guests of passing polite
OF let US not overlook the tradition
E. which sustain the liberties and Il
ne freedom of the American people.
m 40, all our pomp of yesterday
re Is one with Nineveh and Tyre;
Iy Judge of the nations, spare US yet
~ Lest we forget, lest we forget"
ty Sincerely yours,
s. William Hooker.
a. Ocala, Fla, March 81, 1922.