The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-05-30

] OF our WhIhi Itililu you anu A'dNu us
that the people OF this Republic dc
not forget, though the "ingrattude Of
republics for the living is proverbial.
OF that magnificent army Of moro
than four hundred thousand men as.
sembled under the Flag fifty years
ago, a mere handful remains
That war cost four hundred thou.
sand lives.
Today practically ninety millions Of
men, women and children are Offering
their loving memorial, and We are re.
minded that gratitude is the fairest
flower that sheds its perfume from
the heart"
Lessons for Today.
As we contemplate what these men
did, we naturally draw lessons that
apply to our immediate surroundings.
Every deed and every incident, ev-
cry success and every temporary
failure; every step in that great strug-
gle from which this occasion draws
its inspiration: all things associated
with that war for human freedom
work into the text and doctrine Of
the American Gospel of Efficiency,
"The Flag for which the heroes
fought, for which they died, is the
symbol of all we are and all we hope
to be- 1t is the emblem of equal
rights. II means free hands, free lips
self-government and fhe sovereignty
Of the Individual. It means that all
distinctions based on birth or blood
have persisted from our laws; that
our government shall stand between
labor and capital, between the veal
and the strong, between the Individual
and the Corporations, between want
and wealth, and give the guarantee
of simple justice to each and all"
The individual American, if he
would make the most of his free
hands, if he would have those free
lips utter that which bespeaks the
greatest good for himself and his
fellow countrymen, if he would reap
the full measure of benefit from the
rights of self-government and the
sovereignty of the individual, that free
ard unrestrained American must be
efficient; he must know how"
All the ardor of youth, all the eX-
perience of mature years, all the fire
of patriotism, all the courage and 10y
atty of a true heart are wasted and
heedlessly sacrificed, if moral puT.
pose and high ideals are not backed
by individual efficiency. This is es-
pecially true in this part of our coun-
try where the average American sets
the standard for a community numeri.
cally alien.
Scan the history of our country,
draw from your own experience, and
everywhere you find that efficiency of
the individual and efficiency Of
organization have won the battles and
crowned the dreary and grilling cam.
paigns with victory.
Every American knows the story Of
the bitter days of Valley Forge Only
recently has the Nation shown it's
appreciation of the part played by
Baron Won Steuben, the German pa
triot who whipped Washington's brave
men into an efficient army One of
the writer's on the Revolution says:
"The deficiencies in drill, organiza-
ton, discipline and accountability
We're overcome by the fortunate arri-
val of a thoroughly competent man
Sleuben, who had served at Prague
and other battles of the Seven Years
war on the personal STAFF Of the great
Frederick. He joined Washington as
volunteer and later when he proved
his competency for the position he
was appointed inspector general OF
the army. He introduced a definite
plan of organization in the infantry
artillery, cavalry and engineers; he
devised a system OF accountability for
public property which resulted in
enormous saving; he taught the
troops how to care for their arms;
he gave them their first drill book
and regulations for troops in active
service; he personally drilled them
until they could execute maneuvers
with creditable exactness. 1t was to
do these things that he had been
selected and sent over by the French
ministers. In view of their plans tc
aid the American cause with men
munitions and money, they WISHED
10 improve the military efficiency o.
the American army"
Thanks to this training, Washing
tons hunters and trappers and farm
ers, our forefathers, were able t.
| make every ounce of vitality anC