Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1917 — DELIVER US FROM HATRED [ARTICLE]

DELIVER US FROM HATRED

There is one vital! point upon which we as citizens must guard ourselves in the great conflict before us, and that is that there grow not up in our hearts a spirit of hatted toward those in our midst with foreign blood in their veins. We have said that we are not to prosecute a war of revenge, \but a contest for right and jus’ ’< • . This

sentiment comes easy enough at this time. The danger will come later, when Ihq real shock -of- war is felt and grim deatlf* fans us with his sable wings as he takes a son from this home and a husband or brother from that one. Americans can not afford to harbor hatred, and especially can they not afford animosity toward our citizens of foreign descent. If the citizen of Teutonic blood is loyal to our country, though he grieve, aTZJhe necessity for war with his 1 fatherland, his burden is heavy, enough without the added know- , ledge Or suspicion that he is viewed with antagonism and distrust.

There are some who are unquestionably traitors to the land of their adoption, but they .will soon come to their just end. Time will efface them. But their acts should not prejudice in our minds those who are loyal and who are stanchly supporting the government, even though it be with hearts saddened by regrets. If Americans are even approximately true to their & Ideals they will not permit the loyal to suffer for the acts of the disloyal. To do so would be to defeat the very aims in view in the struggle before us. We now are impelled by one consuming desire, the freedom of humanity in its broadest sense, and the greatest freedom to which we can attain is freedom of heart from rancor and bitterness. No great cause was ever won ■without martyrdom. Some "must suffer greatly, all must suffer some. It is nature’s way in which she

works out human redemption. But if bitterness and hatred is permitted to creep into the martyrdom and suffering, their uplifting and purifying influence is nullified. Let us pray to be delivered from all bitterness, that when the contest is ended even our foes may be brought to the light as we see it.