ndignation is worse. The easy, lazy, cowardly
acquiescence in lawlessness and crime is worse. The loss of the
readiness to sacrifice one's very life, if need be, for those ends
which are just and right, is infinitely worse.

There are interests which are worth fighting for and, if need be, they
are worth dying for. The sanctity of womanhood and the safety of
little children, the security of those interests which are essential to
human well-being and the protection of our homes, the honour and
integrity of our country, and the maintenance of those majestic
principles of righteousness which underlie all social advance--these
ends are worth dying for. If these high ends can be secured by
persuasion and moral appeal, well and good. But if they cannot, if
their very existence is threatened by lawlessness and hate, then let
men of sound mind and honest heart stand ready to do battle for the
right.

In these hours of stress which have come upon our country, we have need
of men who possess the necessary moral courage to stand forth and meet
the crisis. There is a loud call everywhere for those who are prepared
to face duty without flinching. It is for every man to say touching
his own measure of ability, "Here am I, send me."

If the cause of democracy is not to fail in those hard years which will
come at the close of this war, there is need not only of wise and
honest leaders--there is need of ranks upon ranks of plain men who are
ready to give their best strength to the service of that government
which is "of the people, for the people, and by the people."

"O beautiful, my country, ours once more,
What were our lives without thee;
What all our lives to save thee.
We reck not what we give thee,
We will not dare to doubt thee,
But ask whatever else and we will dare."

V

The Young Man Who Changed the History of the World

Why do you write it 1917? "April 1, 1917," that was the way you wrote
it this afternoon in your letter to her.

There was a time when it was not so. The Hebrews were dating their
calendars from what they supposed to have been the period of the
creation. The Romans reckoned their time from the founding of the city
on the seven hills. The Greeks reckoned their time from the first
Olympic games.

But to-day if you meet a Hebrew, or an Italian, or a Greek in any part
of the world and ask him, "What year is it?" he will reply instantly,
"Nineteen seventeen." It is just