HATRED

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 May 1917, Page 7

HATRED

FRITZ AND UNCLE SAM

A JOURNALIST’S VIEWS

Mr. Isaac F. Marcossen, a United States journalist, whose work has

gained wide circulation, recently addressed the American Luncheon Club at the Savoy Hotel, London, on tne obligation which lay on the United States to join the Allies in the war against Germany. The audience consisted of obout 200 representative members of the United States colony in London, and a remarkable outburst of enthusiasm followed Mr. Mascosson’s declaration that even at that moment a shot, aimed at some American vessel, might have been fired, the sound of which would start a new epoch in the history of the world; and not the least of its effect would be that at last, after years of misunderstanding, the two great English-speaking nations would be found united in the bonds of a common democracy, fighting against the enemy of freedom and humanity.

Mr. Marcosson was introduced by the chairman (Mr. McAfee) as an “apostle of preparedness,” one who, for a long time had been impressing on the people of the United States the necessity of preparing for some such emergency as most of those now thought confronted their country. During the past two and a-half years of the world’s trvtvail (said the guest), the United States had become rich and prosperous by biulding up an enormous foreign trade. But they had really done nothing for the security and permanency of that prosperity, because when the war was over the Allies, who had suffered and sacrificed together were going to trade together, and the United States, if they did not now join in the war, would have to face the most tremendous trade combination the world had ever known. But this was not a time for thinking of trade and purses after the war. What was wanted was more of patriotism and less of pocket. Much as they might deplore war, there were things worse than war —cowardice and the failure of a great nation to meet, whatever the cost, its responsibilities when they arose. (Cheers). War often proved the spiritual salvation of a nation. That was seen in regard to both England and France. In England no one could go up and down the country without feeling the thrill of a great national awakening; everyone that landed in France experienced at once an exaltation so spiritual and thrilling that it brought tears to the eyes. It was that kind of national awakening and spiritual ordeal that the United States needed before it could become a great factor in the civilisation of the world. (Cheers). The other night he was sitting by a fire smoking and discussing the war with a man who by his genius, fancy, imagination, and heart had bound all the English-reading peoples of the world into a common friendship—the man who WTote “Peter Pan.” (Loud cheers). “My friend,” said J. M. Barrie to him, “I have been stirred and thrilled by these recent events more than I have ever been in my life. Have you stopped think what it means to have the two great English-speaking communities at last fighting together for a common cause, linked together in a great crusade of humanity against inhumanity? Why it is greater than the war itself.” (Cheers.)

Mr. Marcosson went on to say that he knew from personal v experience that in Germany there had long prevailed a profound hatred of the United States. German people said: “It is your shot and shell that are killing our men.” They said that in justification of that enormous crime, the sinking of the Lusitania. (Hear, hear.) The time had come when American shot ami shell would do the job fired straight from American shoulders and American ships. (Loud cheers.) It'was the duty of America to make common cause with the Allies, to become part of the far-flung battle line which extended from the North. Sea to the sunny shores of the Mediterranean, and might at that very moment have reached the eastern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. (Loud cheers.)