Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-10-22

the nucleus around which our volunteer
armies must form themselves. the best
army OF its size to be found among the
nations.
So much for our duties in keeping I'M
stained the honor roll our fathers made
In war. 1t is Of even more instant need
that We hould show their spirit OF pa
triOtism in the Affairs of peace. The du-
ties of peace are with US always; those
Of war are but occasional; and with a ma
ton as with a man, the worthiness OF HE
depends upon the way in which tho
everyday duties are done. The home du-
ties are the vital duties. The nation is
nothing but the aggregate of the families
within its borders; and IL the average man
Is not hardworking, just, and fearless In
our average of public life will In the end
be low; for the stream can rise no higher
than its source But in addition we need
to remember that a peculiar responsibility
rests upon the man in public life: We
meet in the capital of the nation, IN the
city which owes its existence to the fact
that 1t is the seat of the national gov
ernment. 1t is well for us In this place.
and at this time, TO remember that eX-
actly aS there are certain homely quail
ties, the lack of which will prevent the
most brilliant man alive from being a
useful soldier to his country, SO tnere
are certain homely qualities for the lack
of which in the public servant no shrewd-
ness or ability can atone. The greatest
leaders, whether in war or in peace. must
of course show a peculiar quality of gem
ius; but the most redoubtable armies that
have eve existed have been redoubtaDle
because the average soldier, the average
officer, possessed to a high degree Such
comparatively simple qualities as loyalty,
courage n hardwood. And so the most
successful governments are those IN WhlcI
the average public servant possesses thal
variant of loyalty which We call patriot,
ism, together with common sense ano
honesty. We can as little afford to toll
crate a dishonest man in the public serv-
ice as q coward in the army. The muir
derer takes a single life; the corruption
list in public life, whether he be prlpe
giver or bride taker. strikes at the heart
of the commonwealth. In every public
service, as in every army, there Will be
w~rongdoers, there will occur misdeedS.
This can not be avoided; but vigilant
watch must be kept, and as soon as dls-
covered the wrongdoing must be stopped
and the ~wrongdOerS punished. Remempef
that in popular government we must rely
on the people themselves, alike for the
punishment and the reformation. THOSE
upon whom our institutions cast the IN
itial duty of bringing malefactors to the
bar of justice must be diligent IN Its dlS-
charge; yet in the last resort the success
of their efforts to purge the public service
of corruption must depend upon. the attl-
tude of the courts and of the juries drawn
from the people. Leadership is OF aVal
only as far as there is wise and resolute
public sentiment behind it.
In the long run, then, it depends upor
US ourselves, upon us the people as q
whole, whether this government is or is
not to stand in the future as it has stooe
in the past; and my faith hat it vii
show no falling off is based upon my
faith in the character of our average cit
izenship. The one supreme duty is u try
to keep this average high. To this enc
it is well to keep alive the memory OF
those men who are fit to serve as ex'
amples of what is loftieNt and best in
American citizenship. Such a man was
Gen. Sherman. To very few in any gen
Grafton is it given to render such services
as he rendered: but each of us in his
degree can try to show something of those
qualities of character upon which, in their
sum, the high worth of Sherman rested
his courage, his kindness, his clean ant
simple living, his sturdy good sense, his
m%anliness and tenderness in the intimate
relations of life. and finally, his intleXiblt
rectitude of soul and his loyalty to al
that in this free republic is hallowed ant
symboliZed by the national flag.
AS soon as the applause following
the presidents address had subsidized,
David B. Henderson, of Iowa, former
speaker of the house of representa-
tives, spoke on behalf of the Army of
the Cumberland, in eulogy of Gen,
Sherman.