A PATRIOTIC APPEAL TO INDIANA EDUCATORS

HORACE ELLIS, STATE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC

INSTRUCTION

In human society, two conceptions of proper relationships of men, from the dawn of history to the present day, have been manifested: the one, democratic, recognizing the common welfare of all men as the highest ideal of conduct; the other, autocratic, which knows no law except the decree of force. Advocates of these fundamental conceptions of social relationship have, through the ages, disputed eloquently in the world's senates and in the open forum. They have marshalled their wit and wisdom in essay and historic narrative, each group presenting what, to it, appeared an incontrovertible proposition of logic. When wit, wisdom and eloquence have failed to convince, these hostile forces of irreconcilable differences in the matter of social relationships have inevitably resorted to the arbitrament of the sword. Bloodstained fields of battle, the world around, silently attest the matchless heroism of the defenders of democracy against the encroachments of the land pirates of autocracy. The Gracchi in Rome, Cromwell in England, the Commons in Paris, Washington in America, Bolivar in South America, Maceo in Cuba, Joffre, Haig and Pershing of this hour, stand brilliantly forth as types of leaders who have always been willing to lay upon the altar of freedom the sacrifice of their lives "to make the world safe for democracy."

GENESIS OF AMERICAN IDEALS

A great historian has wisely observed: "In the fullness of time, a Republic rose up in the wilderness of America. Thousands of years had passed away before this child of the ages could be born. From whatever there was of good in the systems of former centuries she drew her nourishment; the wrecks of the past were her warnings."

The national wrecks of the past warned Americans. against autocracy, and exhorted them to adopt a democratic program which would defend, at any cost, the inalienable rights of the people—the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Monroe Doctrine placed this obligation upon the shoulders of all Americans; the present war makes it international.

TYPES OF TRUE AMERICANS

Like a giant oak on the mountainside stood George Washington in the heroic days of '76—a fond lover of peace, but a soldier of universally approved valor in the war for independence. He typified the ideal of the people of his day. Through seven long years he endured the privations of the march, and jeopardized his life in the whirlwind of the charge.

On lower Broadway, in the great metropolis, stands a modest statue of uncommon attractiveness. It is the form of a youth whose face and figure at once suggest the heroic. No trace of arrogance marks his lofty brow; but a serenity inspired by unflinching devotion to high duty adorns his majestic features. Who is it? Just a young collegian when the Father of his Country called for defenders of liberty,

who gladly suspended his studies to contribute his part in the conflict-Nathan Hale of deathless fame. How he loved peace, and how zealously he had prepared himself, in college, to cultivate the arts of peace. But when the trumpet of time sounded the alarms of war, this youthful lover of liberty freely laid his life upon the altar of his country.

"To drum beat, and heart beat,

A soldier marches by.

There is color in his cheek;

There is courage in his eye;

Yet to drum beat, and heart beat,

In a moment he must die."

Then they broke his body, but the dying words of Nathan Hale "I regret that I have but one life to give to my country"-assure us of his immortality.

Enter the sacred area of Bunker Hill. Read on the gateposts of the entrance arch the sublime sentiment of patriotism expressed by a stalwart American who loved peace with a fondness indescribable, but who also cheerfully defended liberty. "Blandishments will not allure us, nor threats intimidate us, for we are determined that whensoever, wheresoever, or howsoever we are called upon to make our exit, we shall die free men."

Can the memory of Bucky O'Neil ever perish? As an old man, with a life full of peaceful triumphs, he heard McKinley's call in behalf of stricken Cuba. When his friends implored him to let younger men march by Wheeler's side, he modestly inquired: "Who would not die for a new star in the flag?" And Bucky O'Neil sleeps to-day in Arlington, one of that number who, in 1898, perished for democracy in the West.

OUR FOE

We are at war with a ruthless foe that takes no account of agreements reached, in the past, by peoples who have held the common welfare as the highest consideration. This foe tramples upon treaty provisions, disregards all accepted conceptions of the moral law, and with an effrontery like unto his madness, he strikes at the heart of civilization with the hope that his barbaric plans may succeed. Women and children are swept away in the frenzy of his caprice; temples of art, representing the noblest achievements of man, fall before his ruthless advance; peaceful valleys and peaceful inhabitants are forced into an unwilling slavery more degrading than the world at its worst ever practised; neutral nations, with whom this mad enemy has dealt on terms of comity and neighborliness, are forced into the conflict; and even the highways of the seas, always and under all circumstances freely open to non-combatants, have been barricaded and those who dared to go on voyages of peace and harmless adventure have been slaughtered without warning.

A horrified world stands aghast at the universal sorrow. The cries of distress, like the peal of the fire-bell at night, fall dismally upon the ears of civilization, but make no appeal to the stony heart of this arch enemy of democracy. Atrocities unrivaled for their fiendishness and utter disregard for all the holy traditions of the race are committed by this haughty foe upon innocent women, aged men, starving children and unarmed prisoners. No code of honor, established by thoughtful men in the calm hour of reflection, controls his actions. He is an outlaw, a vandal, a marauder, employing all of the craft and wiles and sinister intrigues of the worst marauders of ancient days.. If he shall triumph,

free schools shall cease to exist; reposeful temples of worship shall be razed to the ground; the rights of the people to be safe from interference in following the dictates of their individual consciences shall be destroyed. Not from a locality only, not from a section merely, not even from free America alone comes the cry: Shall this haughty foe triumph?

THE RESPONSE

Already, because of the fireside traditions; because of the sane teachings of our schools; because of the liberality of the pulpit announcements; because of the loyal utterances of the press and platform; a million of our young men-the bravest and best the world has ever known-have donned the uniform to aid their brethren in Europe who believe that this foe must and shall be crushed. A million more are ready to spring to the ranks to succor their brothers. Millions of mother-hearts and sister-hearts prayerfully intercede at the throne of the great God of the Universe that His children may succeed and that His enemies may fail.

HORTATORY

And, after all, Indiana educators, how do you feel about this vital matter yourself? Are you willing to hear uttered sinister words of condemnation of our great president at Washington and stand like a sphinx bewildered and afraid? Are you willing to hear private or public reproaches cast upon the conduct of the American Congress as it makes appropriations for the defense of democracy and religious freedom and agree with our enemies when they assert that such appropriations are extravagant and unnecessary? Are