Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1917 — DON’T CRITICISE YOUR GOVERNMENT [ARTICLE]

DON’T CRITICISE YOUR GOVERNMENT

One of the foremost hardware companies of this country has issued a little booklet that is one of the finest pieces of pure patriotism. This booklet is directed to its traveling men, and contains some sound advice as to their attitude toward the government in its conduct of the war. It advises' the men, whatever their politics may be, to refrain from any criticism of the administration, assuring them that our leaders are doing all that mortal ' men can do to bring this country through the crisis that faces us. It also reminds them that all the

really big men of the nation have forgotten, for the time being, that they are either Republicans or Democrats, and are standing shoulder to shoulder with the President and his fellow laborers.

This is loyalty of the /purest brand. And it is an example that more could follow with profit. Every idle criticism of those in authority is just so much influence against the cause to which we are irrevocably pledged. It is just so much adverse .force that our leaders must overcomei to win. And worst of all, it all tends to encourage the enemy. The most idle and thoughtless criticism by Americans of their government is wafted straight to Berlin, and by the time it reaches there it is expanded to represent the common sentiment of Americans.

-President Wilson is not asking for our loyalty on the ground of his democracy. (He doesn't ask it on the ground of his learning or superior attainments. He asks our allegiance because the American people have placed him in a position where he is largely responsible for the welfare of the nation, and it were ingratitude on our part, after placing him there, to cravenly desert him and leave him to bear the great burden alone, and worse still, hampered at every step by our senseless complaints.

American soldiers are on the firing line in France. They are going across by thousands and hundreds of thousands. No army can give its best service that has not the solid moral support of its home people. It is treachery of the worst kind to send our boys to fight OUR battles and then bicker and quarrel among ourselves as to methods and means. We have men of the highest character as our leaders. Let us have faith in their ability and integrity, and instead of annoying and nagging, support them to the last dollar and the last drop of our blood. That's what our boys will do, and can we do less?