Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Feb. 24, 1915, edition 1 / Page 4
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4 LETTERS TO GUILFORDIAN. (Publication of letters does not neces sarily imply that their sentiments are endorsed by the Board.) A PLEA FOR JUSTICE. At the beginning of the Euro pean war the neutrality of the United States of America was proclaimed to the world. In an earnest, manly letter President Wilson appealed to his fellow-citi zens to observe the spirit as well as the letter of neutrality. Are we Americans making an honest effort to heed the admonition which our President deemed nec essary, in view of The grave crisis, to give us? Honestly, is not this neutrality of many of ns of the same stamp as that of F. Ilopkin son Smith, who said, when ques tioned as to which side he was on. "I am absolutely neutral; I'm willing for anybody to beat Ger many, even the Japs!" "Judge not that ye l>e not judged,'' and "with what measure ye mete shall he meted unto you," can not, must not be forgotten by a Christian people. Sympathy and aid for Belgium is right; and a certain degree of warm attach ment to England because of racial ties and common language and lit erature is praiseworthy, but is it not a fact that many of us are so under the spell of these feelings that we have unwittingly lost for the time being our sense of jus tice and "fair-play?" As American citizens we have 110 just ground for the hatred of Germany that many of us an nounce openly. We have never but once in the whole course of our history had any serious differ ence with Germany—a difference arising out of Germany's effort to collect the Venezuelan debt dur ing Cleveland's administration. Germany readily assented to the representations of our govern ment, and the matter was quick ly, satisfactorily, and amicably settled. This is not the place to allude to the differences that have arisen time and again between us and England, leading to bloody war or to tedious and costly diplomat ic negotiations; or to the differ ences with France, as when for instance, in 1861 France endeav ored to establish an empire in Mexico in direct violation of the Monroe Doctrine, in which enter prise England lent a ship of war and 700 marines to the assistance of France; or to differences with Japan, which have called forth a torrent of abuse of America and American institutions from Jap anese newspapers and magazines. These facts are utterly beside the question, unless, perhaps, tliey may help us to form sane judg ments in the present by the light of the past. What we are bound as a Chris- tian people, or even as an enlight ened people, to do, is to make an effort to cast aside prejudice, face the questions at issue today in this gigantic strife, and endeavor to do justice to all parties, includ ing Germany. Has England a moral right, or a right under the law of nations, to say in sub stance to Germany: "1 will re strict the size of your navy, you dare not let the size of your fleet approach that of mine; I will re gard the building of a few more battleships as a declaration of war?" Germany, small in area with a huge population, is dejiend (Hit upon its factories and com merce for its existence, and all history, as well as the course of the war now raging, proves that an adequate navy is necessary for the protection of a merchant ma rine and a nation's commercial and industrial interests. Much is said of "German mili tarism." Germany has on its east semi-barbarous Russia, ambitious for expansion and ready to grasp any opportunity; on the West France, ever openly eager to re venge IS7O-'TI; across the channel England determined to remain mistress of the seas and com merce. Those who speak oftenest of "German militarism," say noth ing of "English navalisni," or re fer to it lightly and in excusing terms. "German militarism," ac cording to them, is a monster to be feared and crushed; "English navalisni" is for some mysterious reason a beneficent power. Was "English navalisni" beneficent when in 1801), during the Napo leonic Wars, the English fleet, without any declaration of war, sailed into the harbor of Copen hagen and destroyed the Danish navy? We are told that Germany is utterly condemned by her viola tion of Belgium's neutrality. We seek to excuse and palliate Eng land's offenses, can we justly re fuse to do the same for Germany? It is yet to be disproved that Bel gium had not violated her own neutrality by permitting French officers to enter her territory and make such arrangements as they deemed feasible. The facsimiles of the papers found by the Ger mans in Brussels certainly give ground for suspicion that Bel gium had been tutored by Eng land as to what course she could most safely take in case the threatening war cloud should break over Europe. War is wrong, cruel, and antag onistic to the teachings of the Master whom we, as well as the people now at war, profess to be lieve and follow; but does it help matters to make a scape-goat of any one nation? Does any one honestly believe that war will be abolished, if Germany is utterly crushed in this struggle, while THE GUILFORDIAN England's fleet continues tri umphantly to sail the seas? PRESIDENT HOBBS TALKS AT THE Y. M. C. A. There was an unusually good attendance at the Y. M. ('. A. at the last meeting. The simple an nouncement on the bulletin board that President Hobbs would talk was enough to attract the boys. Since he is a man that can say much in a few words he appealed to them. lie began his talk by quoting a text from flic writings of St. Paul. He especially emphaiszed, in his talk, the had results of an evil life, lie spoke in reference to this life for he said that if this life was lived rightly the life to come would take care of itself. To im press this point he related how an Irishman who was placed on a barrel and forced to preach, gave this splendid idea of life in this world and life in the next: "Our ingress is naked and bare. Our progress is attended by toil and care, Our egress is to —we know not where, But if we live right here, we will IK I right there." The speaker said that he thought the Irishman ought to have been forced to preach more. Then, continuing, he spoke of his own observation, how he had been convinced that wrong living will ruin even the most promising future and mentioned some cases in which sin had wrecked the lives of some promising young men whom he had known. By sin he said he meant lawlessness. As a parting word he invited those who might be on the wrong road to place themselves on the right road at once. STUDENTS OF TODAY WILL BE THE BUSINESS MEN OF TOMORROW Some will probably locate in High Point, N. C. The best possible Banking Facilities are offered by The Commercial National Bank of High Point, N. C. J. Elwood Cox, President, C. M. Hauser, Active Vice Pres. W. G. Bradshaw, Vice President, A V J. Idol, Cashier, THE ONE ALWAYS APPRECIATED GIFT FLOWERS In Our Flower Shop You Can At All Times Get the Best the Season Affords. DECORATIONS A SPECIALTY WEDDING FLOWERS VAN LINDLEY COMPANY FLORISTS 115 S. Elm Street GREENSBORO, N. C. FORDHAM-BROWN SHOE CO. Phone 1186 118 w. Market A full line of shoes for Men and Women at Right Prices. Special Agents for Jas. A. Banister Special discount to College Students CONYERS & SYKES, DRUGGISTS Pure Drugs, Fresh Candies, Sodas, and Cigars THE HOME OF "Sy-Co" HIGH POINT BUGGIES QUAKER QUALITY Durabillty|^ the First Consideration Known all over the South as the Standard of Honest VehiGle Value HfP M. C. NEWELL COMPANY Craansboro Agents Louisville Slugger ane Bingo Bats, D. and M. 9 ending Balls, Gloves, Mitts, Masks, Chest Protectors, and in fact full line of the best goods at the right prices, let us show you. Greensboro Hardware Co. 221 South Elm Street Phones 457 - 458 WALLACE'S Home of Kuppenheimer Clothes, Furnishings, Trunks and Leather Goods. We Save you Money Stetson Hats Florsheln & Regal Shoes 304 South Elm See J. R. Brown, College Representative ARCADE BARBER SHOP Good Quick Work Hot & Cold Baths PHONE No. 1326 203 South Elm Street GREENSBORO HUNTLEY-STOCKTON-HILL CO. Furniture, House Furnishings and Undertakers GREENSBORO, N. C. SPAULDING'S SPORTING GOODS Are standard the world over. You can get what you want from our large stock. Wills Book and Stationery Co. GREENSBORO, N. C. Guilford Lumber Company Building Material Graensboro, N. C.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Feb. 24, 1915, edition 1
4
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