Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1916 — THE PRESIDENT FOR PEACE [ARTICLE]

THE PRESIDENT FOR PEACE

In an address to a delegation of Scandinavians yesterday President Wilson said; I can assure you that nothing is nearer to my heart than keeping this country out of war and doing anything that t lie United States can do to show its preference for peace and for justice and for the things that make it impossible that nations should fight one Another—real understandings and friendships and fair dealings. When the American government ceases to stand for these things it will be false to its ideals, and recreant to What \vf> have always liked to think of as the nation’s mission. The American people do not desire war if it can be honorably avoided. Nor do they believe that the administration has, in its successful efforts to keep the country out of war, sacrificed the national honor. The great need of the world at the present time is, not more war, but peace, and peace based on “real understandings and friendships and fair dealings.” No man, surely, can quarrel with that program. The only question is a* to whether it can ffe carried out. Our people are, we believe, prepared to go far in the effort to realize it.

We have our hot heads, it is true-, but they do not reflect public opinion.

That opinion is reflected in the words spoken by the President yesterday, There is nothing in them to 1 indicate any willingness on his part t<> surrender American rights.. Nor is there any ignoring of the dangers that still threaten. It is much that we have for a year and a half been free from the scourge of war—as we might not have been had other counsels prevailed. That is so much to the good. Under other leadership we might easily have been by this time up to our necks in slaughter and bloodshed. But we do know that the President will do everything in his power to keep war far from its, everything, that in, short o! compromising American rights of honor. He is for peace, and permanent peace —if it can lie had. We may not be able to command it. but we can fjtrive for it, can try to think in terms of peace, and refuse any countenance to those ivlrb are trying to make trouble o f w horn , t ol” u nately. there are not many,—lndianapolis News.

SETTLING IP. By Walt Mason. If every man would pay his hills, just when those bills are due, we’d sidestep many grievous ills which now make people blue. The merchant carries on liis hooks about a million debts, and some who figure there are crooks, and some misfortune’s pets. Some hope to play the honest game when they have got the tin, and it may be they’ll do that same, soon as their ships come in. But some ships travel mighty slow, of winds and waves the sport; some hit the reef of Norman’s Woe, and never come to port. The merchants have to charge us more for everything they sell, to cover the defaulter’s score, and hence H. C. of L. When e’er you buy a pound of pills, or quart of pumpkin rind, you’re paying something on the bills of those who are behind. If you, who read these simple runes, would pay your bills on time, you’d help to cut the price of prunes, and make your life sublime.