The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-09

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proximating that required for the mainte-
nance OF any one Of Europe's mighty stand
ing armies. Thirty-five state and national
homes, opening their hospitable doors to
twenty-five thousand disabled soldiers and
sailors, are monuments to the deep-seated
national appreciation Of the volunteer.
And yet, grateful are the soldiers of
tne greatest war OF history for all this ma
terlal manifestation Of nations gratitude,
they have more than all this 10 ask of the
generation now so rapidly crowding them
on the stage of action. The men who left
the desk and the pillow, the forest and the
factory the farm and the shop, in answer
TO the call Of duty In the hour when the
very life of the Republic was at stake, who
FACED disease and wounds and death itself
unfinchingly, were inspired by something
higher and holier than sordid seeking after
gain, either present or to come; in truth,
this entered into their calculations not at
ALL The highest regard which the American
people can confer in the succeeding years
Tor the unexampled sacrifices made by their
militant forefathers is that they shall jeal-
ously preserve and bequeath inyiolate to the
future citizenship of the Republic that spirit
or devotion to American institutions which
called into the field and made victorious
the armies that followed Grant and Sher-
man and Sheridan forty years ago.
And it is to this high purpose that this
organization gathered in convention here Is
oedlcated 1t is not society conceived IN
the mere pride of ancestry, though no
american could confer upon his children
a richer heritage than the memory of sac
rfnces freely made. of arduous service I'M
selnShly performed, OF courage that did not
shrink from the imminenee of death itself
when the life Of the Nation-yes, more than
tnat, the very perpetuity of free institu-
uons-was at stake But we believe in this
country that the circumstance of birth is
nothing; that IL is only what a man is, not
what some one else was, that counts,
though we do not forget that what man
is may bear very vital relation to the vir-
tues or the vices of those who gave him
being and of his posterity.
DUTY OF THE LIVING.
''But what more fitting than that the
children Of the men who for the flags sake
fought upon a thousand battleields, and Of
the women who fought quite bravely in
the same cause at home, should give them
selves to the high and holy duty of COM
memorating the deeds of their fathers and
Of impressing upon one another and upon
all the people of our common country that,
| in the undying words of Abraham Lincoln
at Gettysburg: 1t is for us, the living, to be
dedicated to the great task remaining be-
| fore US, that from these bonored dead we
take increased devotion to the cause for
which they gave the last full measure of
| devotion, that We may highly resolve that
| these dead shall not have died In vain; that
this Nation SHALL under God, have a new
| birth of freedom; and that government of
the people, by the people, for the people
shall not perish from the earth.
Within the past few hours, in one of the
| most popuious and progressive cities of In
diana, we have had evidence of the fact
| that the time has not yet come, even in this
great State, justly celebrated for its intelli-
| gence and patriotism. when We may safely
cease the inculcation of devotion to those
| free institutions for the establishment of
1 which the blood of our heroes has been
| shed upon all the Republics battlefelds
| from Lexington to Santiago. The man who
inin in nf ha moi
as trampling under his feet the flag for
| which your fathers offered up their lives, is
| hurting himself insensately against the bar
| riers which centuries of civilization have
| erected between brute force and human
rights. The man who, inspired by the STU
pid passion OF race , hacred would prescribe
| because individuals of this race sometimes
| commit offenses for which our laws pre-
| scribe BETTING penalties, have not within
| them spark of that regard for the rights
| of the weak which made this Republic pos
| sible.
NO ROOM FOR ANARCHY.
Sons Of Veterans, We will have no race
wars, no class wars in Indiana. TO all citi-
zens, regardless of color or condition, i'm
partial justice shall be melted out, upon all
| guilty of crimes the penalties prescribed by
| law shall be promptly visited, and he who
| goes to war in Indiana. no matter what his
| pretext, must fight under the red flag of
| anarchy and against the invincible flag of
seventy millions of American freemen. The
| inevitable result of such a war is not sub
| ject for speculation.
| Sons of Veterans, because of the men,
| cries you cherish, the principles you up
| hold the country in which you live, to no
| service more appropriate can you devote
| yourselves than to that of deepening and
| widening public respect for the flag which
| symboizes the traditions and the aspira-
| tions OF Americanism, and for the uniform
worn by those who follow it In peace and
| war i'm the service of the State and Nation.
| The man who lives within the blessed
| shelter of the flag and yet looks upon II
| with unnatural hatred, the man who en-
| joys the protection of our blood-bought in
| stitutions and yet condemns his country
| and its defenders. is unworthy of having a
flag or country, much less such flag and
| such country.
| This government was established. it has
been maintained IL can endure, only be-
cause it embodies the aspirations of q
| united people, and around about 1t have
| centered their loyalty and love. 1t is not
| enough that We shall give passive approval
to our institutions and Indifferent acquies-
| cence to our laws. The duties of citizen
| ship transcend such narrow limitations
| The fires of patriotic feryor set ablaZe on
| Bunker Hill more than q century ago, and
which have lit up the pathway of the Re-
public from that hour down to this. must
| be refreshed by each succeeding generation
| of Americans, lest they die away. The duty
now descends to you; you have accepted It,
| and your organization, founded in the mem
| DRY of patriotism tested In the fire OF bloody
| conflict, is helping in the fulfillment of its
benefcent purposes, to make it certain that
| your fathers. in the language OF Ian.
| coin, shall not have died in yain. God
| speed you in such service"
| Department Commander Grubbs, of the
| Grand Army, made fine speech. Congress.
| man Fred Lands was unusually good in
| protest against race prejudice, and was
much applauded. Frank Martin. nationa
commander of the Sons of Veterans, anc
| Tiautenant Governor Gilbert made mos
| pleasing and patriotic addresses.