The Washington herald., 1912-05-31
CAPITAL PAYS
ANNUAL HOMAGE
10 DEAD HEROES
csntInaea- froa Pass. oBs.

ried families and intimate gatherings OF
friends far from the city's hustle; boats
sl<immed-ths shining waters
The pleasure resorts near Washington
Marshall Hall Chesapeake Beach, Cabin
John Bridge, Great Falls. Chevy Chase.
Glen Echo. and even the more distant
places on mountain top or by the sea-
were thronged with people from WASH
ington. There was a general holiday;
the government departments were closed,
and so were most OF the private places
OF business. The people attended the
theaters. the moving picture shows base
ball games, concerts. any and every
thing that amused.
II was very holy and very happy
day.
Political speech Surprise.
At the afternoon service in Arlington
Cemetery President Taft was the princi-
pal speaker
STANDING IN the midst OF veterans. OF
two, wars, he combined the usual variety
OF Decoration Day address with an un-
expected political appeal to- the people
OF the country to reject all light sug-
gestion OF chance which Il has cost t-cen-
turtles OF struggle and hectacomSs Of
lives to secure and maintain"
F. The. political phase OF the speech as
founded the, large gathering which had
ton National Cemetery to pay tribute 20
the dead which lie inferred there.
For a moment there was silence and
then a cheer which reverberated against
the Virginia hills and surpassed in vol
ume the great majority of the recep-
tions with which the Presidential ut
terances were greeted on the recent
Swing around the circle In search OF
primary votes.
The President, accompanied by Mrs.
Taft, Mai Gen. Leonard Wood. and a
number OF military attaches, arrived at
the national burying ground shortly after
the conclusion OF the usual G. A. r. cere-
monies. In opening his speech. the Pres
ident made a plea for a suitable building
at Arlington in which the Decoration
Day exercises might be held, and then
branched on into a retrospect Of the
various struggles which this people have
made TO preserve their rights and the
integrity OF the Constitution. He used
his appeal against any change, political
or civil, as climax.
Urges Suitable Building.
The Presidents address follows:
Another year has rolled around and
brought this day for the revival OF ten
der memories Of those whose sacrifices
and lives were given in the cause Of their
country. Again II seems appropriate 70
remind Congress Of the neglect 20 con-
struct in this Valhalla OF the nation a
suitable edlfice in which to hold these
ceremonies, Of sufficient size and COM
fort TO accommodate the growing num-
bers whom this beautiful anniversary
will call here, and at the same time 10
mark by its size, its grandeur. and its
simplicity of classic beauty the affection
and reverence that the nation cherishes
for this yearly renewal Of our VOWS Of
patriotism over the graves Of those whose
lives and memory embOdy and typify in
the highest degree love OF country.
''Such celebrations as this are i'm
portant, OF course, to renew the loving
memories Of the individual heroes
whom those Of the mourners and cele-
brants can remember in the flesh, but
as the civil war withdravs farther
and farther into the past Memorial
Day becomes less individual and more
impersonal: and while we do not mini
mize in the slightest the individual
heroism Of those who are buried here.
we find ourselves more and more on
each recurring day measuring by the
extent Of the enormous total sacrifice
the value to mankind Of the principles
which these men about US here died
to uphold.
"As we look back over the range OF his
tory, the growth OF civilization, the es-
tablishment Of lawful and peaceful
authority, and finally the working out
OF individual liberty through the growth
of popular government, We mark the
milestones OF progress by the tremendous
cost that humanity has paid in this on
ward march, and by that cost We note
the greatness of the advance, and the
sacredness and inviolsbility Of the prin-
ciples achieved.
Fight of the People.
Consider the history and the growth
of the power Of the people from the
time Of the AngIo-SaXons down. Think
Of the fight that the mobiles and the
commons made against the king. in which
they wrested from John the Magma
Charta, that lives to-day in the spirit Of
the bill of rights OF the Constitution OF
the United States, Think OF the con-
tinued struggle from that until the fight
then the assertion OF the rights Of the
commons in 1855 against the aggressions
Of the later Stuarts! And then consider
which transferred the power in England
from the king to the people. And then
the war Ior our Independence. Look
the lives lost, the suffering, the strenu-
the final triumph of weak, struggling
after six years Of continu-
Gus war.
ssrz 4. -. A. s-.a a.. III 49, .s,-.