Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-03-20

the American people. They viii fight
for our flag wherever it floats, and
with their hearts and their
hands. the men who carry it on land
or sea; that flag synrbolizes our pur-
poses and aspirations. 1t stands for
what we believe and what we mean
to maintain. and it signifies peace and
progress and law and order wherever
its folds are unfurIed. Rebellion may
delay, but it can never defeat its mis-
sion of liberty, humanity and ciyiliza-
ton.
Are Hardest Fighters.
"In no other country of the world
than our own can be found an army
drawn from its citizenship, who,
through motives of patriotism and
love of its flag, will fight harder and
suffer more for its success than the
American soldiers. Such an army the
United States has always commanded
in every crisis of its history from the
war of the revolution to the last con
test with Spain. That was the stuff
of which the volunteer army of 81
was made, and that is the material
of which our army is composed to-
day.
you possibly may have read of the
incident reported as occurring dur
ing the battle of San Juan hill. A
young soldier with the color guard,
bearing the stars and stripes, had adj
vanced far ahead of the line of bat
tie and well toward the enemy's
front, upon discovering which the Of
ficer in command called Bring those
colors back to the Iine!' when quick
as the lightning's fash the man re-
piled, Bring your line up to the col
ors!' That is typical of the Ameri-
can soldier; he thinks for himself, he
acts for himself, and he fights by his
own inception. Representatives of
foreign nations who have seen our
soldiers and sailors in action report
to their home governments that the
Americans excel the world in these
respects.
This is a nation of patriotism, civ
ilization and justice, and il is in fur
therance of these principles that our
army is now occupying the Philip
pine islands. We are there to liberate
benighted people; not to set up an
imperial government. but to establish
one of liberty and law for the protec-
ton of life and property, and to teach
its people the way of civilization.
Such an undertaking involves great
responsibility on the part of our cit
liens and soldiers. and these obliga-
tiorsz take the form of duty which
cannot be repudiated, for duty un-
performed is dishonor, and dishonor
is shame.
True Tyne of Soldier.
And it is in response to the call of
such responsibility and duty that we
are about to send to that far-otf
cline one of our most worthy mem
beers and true type of the best
American soldier; and were | gifted
with the combined eloquence of Web
ster and Clay and endowed with the
reputed wisdom of Solomon, ! could
pay him no greater compliment than
to say. as representative American,
wearing IA United States uniform, he
is about to part from home and
friends for a foreign shore that he
may uphold the honor and integrity
of his native land, unless | add, as
have. that he is also strenuous
nRemDer OF the ROCK lSldnP OluD, oI
Rock Island, Ill.,; and while we hope
he will need no martial thing to re-
mind him of the friends he leaves be-
hind. and the esteem with which they
regard him. they desire to present
him a substantial testimonial of their
friendship in commemoratiOn of his
pleasant sojourn among us.
Maj. Townsend, it gives me eX-
IRENE pleasure and very great hon
or in behalf of your friends of the
Rock Island Club, to present you this
emblem of your profession, a hand
some sword. and with it L wish to eN-
press the hope that you will never
fail to use it. if necessary. in defense
of our flag. whether ii be assailed by
foreign enemies or domestic traitors;
that you will never, with it in your
hand, strike a blow except in the
cause of liberty, humanity and prog
reSS.'
Maj Townsend Responds.