Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 236, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1917 — The Hillis Address. [ARTICLE]

The Hillis Address.

Indianapolis News. The story of horrors—and proved horrors—-that Dr. Hillis told last night with an eloquence that was all the greater because so its reserve and simplicity must have convinced every one who heard it that this country would almost be guilty of complicity in the crimes of Germany if it did not throw into the war all its powers and resources for the purpose of defeating her. Not for a thousand, years has any nation been called on to face such a ghastly record as that which will confront Germany at the peace conference. Those who have kept themselves informed bn the subject have been doubtful about some of the atrocity stories. It was hard for anyone to believe that men and women—and children—had actually been crucified by the Germans. But such, Dr. Hillis assured his hearers last night, is the awful fact, one of the victims having been a mother superior who tried to protect one of her pupils against outrage. The worst of the crimes is proved by photographs, and the diaries of the fiends who committed them. Babies and old men were alike slaughtered. Women, even young girls, were outraged and savagly mutilated. Then thousand of these atrocities have been documented. Probably the worst of it all is that everything that was done was in accord with the German theory of war, done in cold blood and x under orders. It is an awful record. From these facts Dr. Hillis drew several important conclusions. One is that the women should be especially interested in this war, since it is, as the speaker said, a women and children’s war. American wives and mothers should think of their sons and husbands who are fighting in France as. the defenders and avengers of womanhood. It should be a matter of pride to them that their men are in this war against beastliness and cruelty. Of course, it foli lows that France and England, who are fighting the same battle, are our friends and allies, engaged in the same sacred task. Any man, therefore, who rejoices in the reverses that may be suffered by either power is just as much a traitor as he would be if he gloried in the defeat of the American army. There is a good deal of this sort of “loyalty.” Men have pretended to be for America against Germany, and yet have sneered at England, and said that they were opposed to our “pulling her chestnuts out of the fire.” Such talk is the talk of an enemy to this government. There must be an end of it. Finally, it should be understood that there can be no peace which in--1 volves the slightest compromise of 1 moral principle. There can be no peace till Germany is defeated. We i are fighting, not merely a nation, but * a conspiracy against the safety, honI or and welfare of the human race. It must be stamped out. It is a pity that every man and woman in Indianapolis' could not have heard the speech : of Dr. Hillis.