Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 304, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1917 — Helping to Win the War [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Helping to Win the War

Adrico to American! Six Yean ol Age and Undec

By GEORGE ADE

Can a mere child be of service to his or her country while we are trying to make the kaiser behave? Undoubtedly. How? By observing the conduct of wear-

kneed, hysterical and complaining adults and then being just as different from them as possible. . This war Is neither a joke nor a protracted funeral. You will notice that some of the older people refuse to accept it as a fact, while others move about in a blue funk, ex-

claiming, between sobs, that the U. S. A. is going to the bow-wows. Let the very young children set their elders a good example by remaining calm but determined. If you pick up the morning paper and read that the U-boats bagged 17 ships*-instead of the customary 15. and the Canadians captured only one line of trenches instead of two, do not shake ybur head and declare that the Germans never can be licked. Set a good example to your fathers and mothers and uncles and aunts by renewing your faith dally, in spite of an occasional setback. Quote to them the words of Abrabam Lincoln: ‘.‘Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty.” You might remind your grown-up relatives that all during the Civil war the Northern states harbored a good many well-meaning people who went >about moaning that the Union never icould be preserved and we had better isccept peace at any price. These Invertebrates (an invertebrate, children, is a creature with a string of macaroni where the backibone should be) —these spineless ones were willing to let certain states secede. The blacks were to remain in 'slavery. Our flag was to be lowered. Anything to avoid a fight to a finish. Even after the battle of Gettysburg when the fortunes of war began to fa!vor the North, Just as they are now jfavoring the allies, every community Ihad to put up with a few of the whiners and faultfinders who belittled each victory and magnified each reverse. Your grandfather can tell you about these peace lovers who helped to prolong the war by falling to give united and loyal support to the soldiers at the front If it should happen that grandfather was one of these “peace-at-any-price” advocates, doubtless he will " change the subject and talk about something else. Even if you are less than six years of age, surely you can understand that the issues Involved in this dreadful war must be settled and settled right before the world may hope for abiding peace. Therefore, if anyone asks you what you think about the war, reply as followe'S. “President Wilson was right when he said that the world must be made safe for democracy. The American people have no desire to destroy Germany or prevent it from regaining commercial .importance. They want Germany to restore the stolen property and go home in a chastened mood They want to jam the knowledge into every close-cropped Prussian head that just because a man owns a highpriced automatic gun and has a lot of ammunition and a college education, he has no right to go out and shoot up his neighbors. The American people are hoping to make it clear to the kaiser and the crown prince and the various square-jawed Hindenburgs that it is highly improper to form a partnership with God for purposes of inurder, and then treat God as a silent partner. As to the final outcome, the battle of the Marne was the beginning of the end. For 200 years all the big events of history have marked an irresistible advance toward the establishment of democracy. When the Germans failed in their mad rush of 1914, It meant that an All-Wise Providence and the laws of evolution were not to be thwarted by a military despot with a bristling mustache. Germany cannot win and therefore Germany must lose. The end of bloodshed and sacrifice and widespread terror will come as soon as the United States of America begins to strike aggressive blows. The more men we send to the front the fewer we will lose. Our greatest, enemy at present is indecision. Our [strongest ally is speed. Our most needful watchword is faith. We are 'going to end the war and then sit at the council table to repress greed and curb injustice." Of course the foregoing will sound rather hlfaluting to come from a six year-old child, but It will be the truth, and the truth is needed in large doses at present, especially by people more ithan six years old. That will be all for today, children. |You may rm along and play.