Afro-American courier. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1926-19??, 1938-11-01
To Those Who Fought
By CHARLES H. WILSON, Social Science Department
Acorn A. & NJ College

Armistice Day. regardless of the years. finds the ex-
soldier in fact all those who participated in this memo
rial conflict in attitude of retrospecton They look
back that day twenty years when humanity went
wild with Joy because the to end all had itself
ended They enlisted in military service for that great
destruction l. too asked myself why did they
die Our country churches, fathers and mothers all
asking it. The things they told didn't true
We didn't make the world safe for democracy. We didn't
end The suffering and death of those young men
hasn't seemed to keep other from dying Think again
of the Treaty of Versailles The League of Nations of
the Kellogg BRAND Pact Must they keep dying? Is
no balm in Gilead?
In my early years had the opportunity of attending
high school at Tuskegee Institute Immediately after the
signing of the Armistice and it here that too be-
came doubling Thomas because did not believe what
these disabled soldiers who had been there for pe
cal training had told So l. too felt those steel plates
that lodged in their heads Sides breasts and legs
Never did realize the horrors of until some
of those gradually going insane, how would
beg for mercy whenever the sound Of whistle
heard.
| imagine their minds were in Europe, going over the
thing again They thinking of Mouse, of American
soldiers crossing the river under machine fire from
the German guard and chill drizze of rain drench
ing their needless battle They vsualzng the French
columns they wheeled into Sedan. battery of British
official cameras beyond Manbluge training on field
loaded for the last savo of the World War They
could still dying in battle had been doing
since Aug 1914 The air breathed into their nostrs with
great overone like the first call to the Day of Judgment
Their moving from the field of battle being more lonely
than ever joining the armies leaving their dead soi-
tary Time went rapidly in their minds for it brought to
them the battles the Marne the Meuse the Argonne
the Passchendaee Messines Ridge, Verdun, and the
Chemn DIES Danes Armistice Day to them imagn-
avely Unknown Holiday 1t still is for it suits
When I entered the graduate school, my thesis sub
ect for advanced degree dealt with phase of the
American citizens participation in the World War
thought again that in gathering material, that was
writing of that that ended all war that it was war
fought making this American Commonwealth safe
place for democracy that would be incentive the
part of nations dsarm and finally peace could be
ed through international agreements but all these have
fallen short right before my eyes.
Twenty years have passed, and there have been 10
International six civil, and two colonial fought
three continents by the white black and yellow 1t
not to end Instead of being max
ing the world safe for democracy there is Communism
in Russia, Nazsm in Germany, Fascism in Italy, and
of antdemocratic relationships in the smaller
countries.
Instead of disarmament there re-armament In Eu-
rope 50,000,000 men ready to march at moments
notice Attempts to secure peace through international
agreements have not been successful Japan Germany,
and Italy have defed the League of Nations the Kellogg
BRAND Pact, outawing has gone up in smoke.
Now why should plead for peace when there is
peace AS the Rev Edward L. Stephens cries out the
prophet of old that 1--WE have yearned for talked
for peace but always have been unwilling at least
ready to pay the price of peace and that price which
bears the stamp of Heaven is Good WILL
For it still remains that to get rid of must
eradicate it's roots Not necessarily statesmen pact-sign