WHY AMERICA IS AT WAR.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 49, 21 November 1917, Page 6

WHY AMERICA IS AT WAR.

TIME FOR TALK PAST

A CAMPAIGN OF ENLIGHTENMENT

found that Germany was, as /iimniermau elated, planning world control, and had already begun the work of dividing up the United States. A pint of it slio would take for hereolf.. A few more States she -would giro to Mexico. And she would bribe Japan to become our enemy by ottering her still more of our territory. We found that Germany's plan was to crush each great country'in turn, to win in Europe first, and thenafter conquest on our shores—do as she liked with us. We found that if we did not fight with the Allies and help them win the Allies would be beaten, and we would have to fight Germany alone." The foregoing are some- of the reasons, apart from Germany's submarine barbarities, for the entry of the United Slates of America into the war, which are put forward in a brochure which lus been issued to Iho public by the .National Security League of New York. Emphatic declarations are made upon three points: "Why we are at war," "Why you must help," and "What you can do," and the keynote of the league's conditions is "We can win peace only by fighting for it." There is, it says, nothing in the world worthy of thought now uxoept winning the war. "This is our war, because if wo do not fight with all our power we and cur Allies will lose," says the league in discussing why it is the duty of every person to help. "The war lias been going on long enough," it continues, "to In-ing home to the people of Europe, who are near the scenes of rhe conflict, what G'ermnn purposes mid Gennoti methods are, but here in this country our fancied security, through long distance from the battlefield, dulls our imagination and bills us to a feeling of security. What has not happened, we feel, cannot happen. Did we. ever imagine that Germany would pursue a campaign of ruthless barbarity through submarine wnrfare, or thai she would destroy over 2,500,000 tons of shipping in less than 15 months' time? Did we ever imagine that Germany could and would destroy churches, rq#iedrale, and homes, raze and obliterate everything needed to support life, poison wells, and maim the inhabitants of a conquered country? Yet she has (lone all of these. Did we ever imagine that Germany would thrust into tlavery i"en, womon, and young girls? Tet she has done and is doing this. Why should it be so difficult for us to imagine that Germany may defeat the Allied fleets, conquer England, and, in command of the seas, invade this country? Why should it bo so difficult for us to imagine the German Kaiser in control of our Government, our taxes paid lo him, liberty and the pursuit of happiness denied to us, and in eome instances life itself taken awav?" ,

"What You Can Do."—Under this -heading Hie league indicates duties for nil. "Fight—if you can, and have no de : pendants who will ljecome a burden to ,tho nation," it. declares. "If you cannot fight, help others to fight and win. Encourage a-iid vote for men in Congress whn stand for sound and efficient conduct of the war; who think of America first— nnd of themselves not at all. Aid prosperity by working hard and spenuing wisely. . . . Save for the Liberty Loans.—fiemeniher that if wo don't help the Liberty Loans we may have to subecribo to an indemnity loan to pay Germany. Expoao the slackers. The brave should not have to defend the coward, and if a slacker slacks another must take his place. The slacker cheats the Government and all below him in the conscription li6ts, and you should prevent this injustice. Prove wrong the view of the so-called 'conscientious tbjector' who would allow you to.protect his family, his property, and his comfort by force, while ho smugly profits by ; our patriotism and sacrifice. Be loyal to our Allies, who arc fighting with us for the world's liberty. Read about and understand the war, and oppose all talk of peace until peace means the end of all war, except with consent of the people. Those who talk peace now are as ignorant as the pacifists who opposed our preparedness, one, two, and three years ago, saying there never could bo a war for America.

. . . The time for talk is past; we must now' act. We must prove our belief in America, and in nil that her liberty means."