Grant County Herald

PATRIOTISM VS. OBSTRUCTION.

The Cassville Record in an able editorial last week asked for charity and leniency in dealing with others during these perilous times. The Record in brief holds that bigotry and prejudice may do much harm and that many people may be loyal who are now being questioned. It cites as an example the assault, nation-wide as it is, on Senator La Follette, and queries that should the senator be really a patriot has not a monstrous and foul wrong been done him? Much that the Record says is true but in the main brother Klauer wanders in a morass of doubt not conducive to clean sailing or clear thinking. The test, Record, is an easy one. Is a man behind the government or isn't he? Does he evidence by word and act his loyalty to American ideals and the servants elected by the people or does he carp and criticize on one hand and, when confronted, put up a crocodile semblance of patriotism on the other. The simplest child can read the human heart in matters of this kind just as easily as the wisest man and read it right. Manner and speech betrays the inner feeling and a man is or isn't right. There is no middle ground and no chance for argument or question. Senator La Follette is wrong and away wrong if for no other reason than that the public men of all parties and creeds are arrayed against him. He has taken the wrong steps where he might have taken the right ones for reasons best known to himself. We honestly believe he is reaping the whirlwind of criticism where he sowed the wind of petty politics and obstructionism. Loyal people of this country of every race and creed are behind the stars and stripes because they ARE AMERICANS and believe in standing behind their government. They are buying Liberty bonds, contributing to the army Y. M. C. A. and the Red Cross, furnishing supplies for our troops and making every sacrifice a stay-at-home can to be behind OUR TROOPS. These countless things go on without argument or hint of praise. Patriots are not going to be sweet tempered with those so blind as to oppose, obstruct and complain. As we said before the test is easy but all must submit to it.