Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1916 — DEATH AND RUIN THERE; PEACE AND PLENTY HERE [ARTICLE]

DEATH AND RUIN THERE; PEACE AND PLENTY HERE

Europe’s Terrible Plight Emphasizes America's Cause For Thanksgiving Under President Wilson.

Now, while our great country is thanking God for plentiful harvests, tranquil days and nights, prosperity and contentment, all Europe is torn with dissension and the most beautiful countries of the world converted into slaughter-houses—the primroses of England, the lilies of France, the corn flowers of Germany, are redder with blood than the scarlet Sarafan of Russia. Happy homes are in ruins, fireside circles are broken forever, widows and orpljpns are begging for shelter and bread, and from one end of Europe to the other there is nothing but ruin, misery and death. But here the children laugh in the'sun, the farmer looks forth on his fertile fields and thanks God fbr a bounteous harvest. When the night closes over country and city, lights twinkle in millions of happy homes, and the contented laborer goes whistling from his work to the wife and little ones who wait his return at home.

ful reunion of home loves and hearts, friends and neighbors. Where is the man who can gaze upon scenes like these and then declare our President has abused our country and our flag by his refusal to be driwn Into war, a strife from which we could derive no benefit, no moral victory, but a strife which would darken the sunshine in every happy home in America, would silence the music of beloved voices, that would crucify our women and children, who would bo called on to tread the stony way to Calvary, as the women and children of Europe have done and are still doing. President Wilson is a great man —he is great because he has had the moral courage to defy ridiqule, censure, opposition and persecution in upholding what he knows to be right—and all over America, north and south, east and west, the gratitude of American mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, follows In his steps, and breathes his name in every prayer that mounts on angel wings to heaven. There will be no blood upon his hands, no tears upon the laurels he gathers in the ways of civic honor and glory, but his are the lilies of peace and the grand diapason of Thanksgiving that rises from the hearts of the people, singing as sang the angels of old. “Peace on earth—good-will toward men.”—Louisville Post.

God knows America has cause to feel a deeper, greater and more generous Thanksgiving season spirit this year than ever before in our history. The Pilgrim fathers, who celebrated the season with prayer and feasting in the snowclad woods of New England, were not more filled with gratitude to their Makei than the people of this nation are filled this memorable fall. We have been kept out of the fearful strife abroad, our loved ones have been preserved, the honor of this nation upheld, and from the sturdy pines of the North to the palm-fringed shores of the South, the nation is one and indivisible.

The Democratic administration, whose standard-bearer is President Wilson, has been the instrument under God of sustaining the beautiful unity of purpose that binds all men together as brothers, that has kept the sword in the sheath, and left the dove to build its nest in the cannon’s mouth. Our sails are white upon the seas, the wide fields of fearth stand waiting the benediction of the passing year, and from the little gray churches of the hamlets to the vast cathedrals of great cities, the voices of the hells are palling unto prayer and praise. Here in our old Kentucky home abides the peace of God that paaseth all understanding. The bluegrass uplands gleam in the light, hard times and wfir times are- forgotten, and there is no shadow on the heart. Fires glow on tie hospitable hearthstone, the wide rooms and halls ar» swept and garnished, and on these sweet days the wanderers Return to the old home. There are kisses and handclasps, a tender word for the absent, and a beauti-