Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-23
SOLDIERS HONOR
NATIONS HEROES
Joint Observance of Washing
ton and Lincoln Birthdays
by John Buford Post.
COURT HOUSE EXERCISES
addresses by Speaker Charles Adkins
of Illinois Assembly and Judge
@. j. Sea-le.

! Memb ers Of John Buford post, G. a.
r, Of the Woman's Relief corps, and
other patriotic organiza tons of the
city, gathered last evening in the cir
cult court room of the court house, in
Observance of the birthday anniver
saries Of George Washington and Abra-
ham Lincoln. The court room was fill
ed to it's capacity. Hon. Charles Ad-
kins Of Bement, speaker OF the Illinois
house of representatives, and Judge c.
J. Searle gave addresses touching upon
incidents in the lives oS the men whose
memories were honoreG.
The name of Washington" said Mr.
Searle, suggests two thoughts 10 my
mind One of these con Germs his per
sonality We all think alike OF him,
for he was a strong character; he was
manly, upright, and conscientious. and
his integrity was of high standard.
He was a soldier OF ability and was
great general. He was a soldier of
courage and of great patriotism. AS
statesman, he was wise and sagacious.
and well adapted TO Ill the position.
Always IN the time of the history of
the world, when there has been a great
crisis, some man has been sent from
on high prepared TO I'LL the emergen-
cy Washing ton was such a man. The
second thought that comes to me
causes me to lose sight OF his person
atty, great as it was, and is of This
great life which is symbolic Of the ma
ton or perhaps Of the world But we
are not here for Washington's sake, for
what little We can do cannot benefit
him. We are here. rather. TO learn 4
lesson from the life of this great man.
II was he who helped 10 form the gov
eminent which has made this country
the world power which # now is-a
government which has ruled the coun
try in this time of great and varied
population as in the time when the
population was but three millions Of
people. This government has come
down TO US unimpaired. and the duty
OF sending it on TO posterity unimpair-
ed. If not bettered, rests upon US. We
are responsible for the perpetuity OF
this government Of the people, for the
people, and by the people"
WOMEN DESERVE CREDIT.
Speaker Adkins said that the men
were not the only ones who should be
honored upon such al occasion. buc
that the women should receive their
fair share of attention. as they had
worked hard 10 preserve this nation
We are here" ne said, ito honor the
founder of this republic and the pre-
server of the republic. The former
vas a remarkable man. dignifed. and
inspired by great patriotism The 9th
o.. was remarkable man, inspired by
a,riotism and love. In founding this
government, Washington deyiated from
i.recedents, and aided in forming one
lf the most remarkable governments I
.. the world. Rightly was he chosen I
IS the first president, and after be had T.
served two terms. he did something /
that few people in the world would do /
declined a third term. He was no
tin-horn politician. He was a patriot /
He brought order out of chaos. and /
when he left the presidential chair be /
became the leading private citizen OF |
bis country. Would that we had more F.
statesmen OF his ilk today. But now.
when a man is elected TO Office he stays I.