The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1907-07-05
TO THE OLD SOLDIERS.
Grafton by Jos. ]. LAWN, Tuesday
Evening of Last Week.

VAotloA W JUS. }. AdVlHs AucSud1
Evening of Last Week.
os. ]. LAWNS oration, delivered
in Rathdrum Tuesday evening O
last week at the puplic reception or
the occasion of the twelfth annual en-.
campment Of the G. A. r. and W.
R. c. Of the department Of Idaho,
was in part as follows:
Members of the Grand Army o1
the Republic, members Of the Wo-
mems Relief Corps, Ladies and Gen
tlemen: The high compliment
your committee has paid me in ex-
tending this invitation to perform
a most agreeable part Of the cere-
monies Of this evening, is, permit me
to say, highly appreciated, and as
sure you that it will afford me much
pleasure if ! may happily contribute
single thought to the enjoyment OF
this magnificent gathering.
The Great Architect Of the uni
verse crowned His handiwork Of
creation when He made man and
put him in possession Of the earth.
He placed him at the point where
the paths Of wrong and duty inter-
sected and left him free to take either
way. He gave him day that he
might labor and robed night in dark
ness that he might rest. There are
two spots on earth more dear to him
than all the rest; the place Of his
birth, and the place of his burial.
The former is hallowed ground. The
chain that binds him to the land
where he first beheld his mothers
face is divine. The spot is conse-
Grated by the supreme act of Gods
sovereign power, creation. Equally
sacred is the spot where his ashes
to ashes and dust to dust" shall be
consigned. His love of earth, like
his love Of life, therefore, is not
merely the accidental property OF
nature. 1t is inborn and essential,
and patriotism, or love of country,
is but the offspring Of mans COM
bined love Of life and home. This
mental quality which we term pa
triotism is among the grandest and
noblest which is possessed by man,
and upon the patriotism and intelli-
gence Of the people depends the
success Of popular government.
What facinating picture for the
imagination to dwell upon is pre-
sented in the landing of that little
band of devoted souls at Plymouth
rock on that bleak December day in
1920; they did not come to increase
their fortunes, nor had they fled from
political oppression-alt although the
administrations Of Charles and James
we're sufficiently odious to provoke
resentment-but they came to the
forbidding shores Of New England
that they might enjoy that freedom
of conscience that was denied them
in their native land. The Pilgrims
Of the Mayhower were in a sense the
product Of all the ages, but more
especially Of the trials, temptations
and struggles for freedom Of the
English people. They we're the in
carnation of a thousand battles
fought in the interests of civil and
religious liberty and in their persons
they embodied the destiny Of Ameri-
ca.
1t is pleasant to linger near the
birthplace of American liberty, to
count its strong pulsations; to note
the vigor of its youth; to commune
awhile with those austere men who
established and cherished it,-cher
ished it with such vigorous and saw
age devotion, and it sprang into ex
istence like giant full armed.
Grim visaged war has made ths
history of the human race. In al
latitudes Of time the turning poinr
Of destiny has hinged on war. The
ancient Scandinavian looked for per
petual war in Paradise, because hi
knew no liberty not wrested from
tyrants in contests OF war. Englisf
liberty was won in battle. American
freedom was the gift OF the sword.
x The crisis and turning point O
history has been war. Nor will i
hasten to pass away. \ x Unit
Millennium dawns, ofenses will com,
for diplomacy to adjourn and arbi
tration to adjust But the sun shoult
never set upon the nation, who's,
contest Of words could not merge il
a strife of bullets, in defense of he
loyal citizens.
/ The history Of an army cannot b
written. 1t pours its mighty curren
where God has made the channel Ii
toward destiny. When we fain woul
realize the conduct of our soldier
during the civil war, it we're bette
far to typify than paint, and from
single point of observation vie,