The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-06-04

| ment otherwise? -.
| For Indiana's veterans. in common
with all the people of our state, be-
lieve that nothing is worth fighting
for that is not worth dying for; and
that nothing is worthy dying for but
| Truth. Such is our view of life, of bat
tie, of death. Indianas soldiers prov
| ed this on the field of Shiloh and on
every field on which they fought. For
Indiana's people are neither rich nor
/ poor, neither covetous nor envious.
nor cringing. nor brawlers, nor afraid
they are merely sturdy. honest, gen.
tie people, living simply, eager for
noble teaching; and knowing, when
called on in righteousness, how to
give battle and how to die.
And In this we take no particular
pride. Our chiefest pride is in that we
share this view with all Amer cans.
For we Indiana people are national
above all else.
| said | spoke for Indiana soldiers
and of Indiana soldiers who died here.
said untruly. You who live and these
who died were not Indiana soldiers
you and they were Union soldiers
the nations soldiers-from Indiana.
We have a state flag. Few of Indiana's
100000 people know what it is. But
every one of Indiana's 100000 people
know the stars and stripes; and every
one of that $500, 000-men, women
md oh \ IL G.. - t. -
the nations fiag-it is our flag the
only flag we live by and die by. 1t
was the flag cur soldiers battled I'M
der on this field. Let 1t similarly be
the only flag of every state.
The American Nation.
All, That is 1.-THE American ma
ton, We have found ourselves at
last. And it is because our heroes died
here that we have come to the con-
seriousness of that sublime fact-the
American people, a nation, one indi-
visable. everlasting. And you and
and all of us are parts of that nation
That is enough. If those who rest
here know that We have comprehended
that thought they do know it
they are glad and rejoice. 1t is
enough and more for any man to die
for. How blessed OF the Father, there
fore. are we who may live for that
thought,
And we do not live worthily Of it
we do not live at all, but only exist
as exist the beasts-if we do not coli
he -
might to righteous ends and aims
But how shall We tell what Is righte-
Gus and what is unrighteous? We be-
lieve differently and, with all our
souls, sincerely. To one it seems
Gods work to give order and law and,
by slow processes. so that they may
see and understand, liberty and civil
ization to alien and inferior people.
To another. such course seems in
famous. Both are equally sincere.
How shall we tell which one is
right? Who is to decide? Patience,
God will decide. No harsh words, No
denunciation, Trust the common
thought and conscience. Trust the
people. "vox populi, vox Dei"-the
voice Of the people is the voice of God.
If, In the long run, that is not true, re-
publican government, democratic In
situations, the rule of the people is a
mistake And the peoples government
is not mistake. 1t is the truest thing
in the world and the most righteous
In saying that, we but repeat what our
i haroac har.. urrofa In, the h1Oo1
With this thought. then, we meet
all problems, troubles, dangers, doubts,
serene and brave. Conflict of capital
and labor, foreign wars, domestic
broils, agitation and unrest, vexed
questions and situations so perplex-
ing and grave that no key to them
seems possible-all will yield to the
master key made of the combined
sense and conscience of the American
people. To doors so solidly shut that
opening appears hopeless, time will
fit and turn that master key. This and
the people-they will make all plain
and right at last in this republic of
ours. Time and the people and. over
all, the Father-who dares doubt our
outcome remembering them? Who,
remembering them, can cherish hate?
Who, remembering them, can be
blgoted or despairing? with malice
toward none, with charity for ALL
these are the loftiest American words
yet spoken. Let us live up to them
and be calmly patient! Let US live up
to them and be splendidly hopeful
Let us live up to them and so come
into that perfect knowledge that giveth
peace and light, Thus and only thus
shall we be worthy of Him who spoke
them and of these fallen ones.
And now on behalf of Indiana's
monument commission I salute Indi-
anas soldiers, dead and Hving-all
and every one, from private to COM
mander; from him of name obscure to
our beloved General Wallace, who still
blesses us with his inspiring presence.
and glorious General Hovey gone be-
fore. And in the name of Indiana sol
diers-the nations soldiers-voicing
fraternity as noble as their courage
IL salute, too, their former foes in
arms, but now their comrades-com-
rades in the glorious comradship OF
this new day which has dawned for
! the republic.
Ccr0EfI0