Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-03
Memorial Day More Generally
Observed Than Ever Be-
fore in Washington.
DEFENDsARMY ANDNAYY.
Chief Executive of this Republic
Voices His Sentiments and Draws
Comparisons Between the Days of
's1 and Present in Philippines.

'61 and Present in Philippines.
Washington, May 3O.-Decoration
day was observed here today, per-
haps more generally than ever before
The arrangements We're in charge of
the department of the Potomac and
included parade. All G. A. R. and
other patriotic organizations decorat-
ed the monuments and graves and
We're addressed by men prominent in
the affairs of the government. At
Arlington cemetery where the princi-
pal exercises We're held after the dec
Grafton OF the graves, including those
of the Confederate dead, President
Roosevelt delivered the following adj
dress.
1t is a good custom for our country
to have certain solemn HOLIDAYS in
commemoration of our greatest men
and of the greatest crises in our his
tory. There should be but few such
holidays. To increase their number is
: " ShGopSli Iucll. washington ana
Lincoln-the man who did most to
found the Union, and the man who
did most. to preserve it-stand head
and shoulders above all our other pub
( lie men, and have by common consent
Won the right of this preeminence.
Among the holidays which commemo-
rate the turning points in American
history, Thanksgiving has signifi-
canoe peculiarly its own. On July 4
we celebrate the birth of the nation;
on this day, the 3Oth of May, we call
to mind the deaths of those who died
that the nation might live, who wager
ed all that life holds dear for the
great prize of death in battle. who
poured out their blood like water in
order that the mighty nationah struc.
ture raised by the far-seeing patriot.
ism of Washington, Franklin, Mar
shall, Hamilton and the other great
leaders OF the revolution. great franz
ers OF the constitution, should not
crumble into meaningless ruins.
You whom | address today and your
comrades who wore the blue beside
You in the perilons years during
which strong, sad, patient Lincoln
bore the crushing load of national
leadership, performed the one feat the
failure to perform which would have
meant destruction to everything which
makes the name America a symbol of
hope among the nations of mankind.
Yous did the greatest and most neces-
sary task which has ever fallen to the
lot of any men on this western hemis-
phere. Nearly three centuries have
passed since the waters of our coasts
We're first furrowed by the keels of
themen whose children's children were
to inherit this fair land. Over cen.
fury and half of colonial growth fol-
lowed the settlement; and now for
over a century and a quarter we have
been a nation.
During our four generations of ma.
tional life we have had to do many
tasks, and some of them of far-reach-
ing Importance; but the only really
vital task was the one you did, the
task of saving the Union. There were
other crises in which to have gone
wrong would have meant disaster:
but this was the one crisis in which to
have gone wrong would have meant
not merely disaster but annihilation.
For failure at any other point atone
ment could have been made; but had
you failed in the iron days the loss
would have been irreparable. the de-
feat irretrievable. Upon your success
depended all the future of the people
on this continent, and much of the flu
ture OF mankind as whole.
Are Reunited.
You left us reunited country. You
left us the right of brotherhood with
the men in gray, who with such cour-
age and such devotion for what they
deemed the right, fought against you
But you left us much more even than
your achievement, for you left us the
memory of how twas achieved You
who made good by your valor and pat
,iotism the craftsmanship of Lincoln
and the soldiership of Grant, have sci
as the standards for our efforts in the
future both the way you did your work
( in war and the way in which, when the
war was over, you turned again to the
work of peace. In war and in peace
alike your example will stand as thu
wisest of lessons to us and our chill
dren and our childrens' children.
In the Philippines.
Just at this moment the army of thu
United States, led by men who servet
!. among you in the great war, is carry
7 ing to completion small but peculiar
s@ly trying and difficult war in which ii
involved not only the honor of the fla
& but the triumph of civilization owe
forces which stand for the blacl
chaos Of savagery and barbarism. TIL
task has not been as difficult or as i'm
portant as yours, but, oh. my com
rades, the men in the uniform of TIL,
United States. who have for the las
three years patiently and uncomplain
ingly championed the American caus
In the Philippine Islands, are you
younger brothers, your sons. The
have shown themselves not unworth.
of you, and they are entitled to tn,