Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-06-06
Alma Pays Tribute to the Nations
Dead
ADDRESS MAOE BY DR.. BRUSKE
In Eloquent Speech the Facts Of War We're
COntraSted Against the Visions Of Peace

i he observance OF MeHlOIldl LAY
was one of the most general observed
in Alma in recent years. In the
morning details from the Post visited
the Wright and Bailey cemeteries
for the customary decoration OF the
graves of the veterans At two
o'clock in the afternoon there were
exercises held in the opera house.
Hundreds of people gathered there
while nearly as many more could not
obtain even standing room. The day
was a perfect one and after the clos
ing of the exercises very impress
sive parade marched to Riverside
cemetery.
The exercises at the opera house
were presided over by Prof. James E.
Mitchell. There was song by the
Wright Quartette and then II. ].
Winchell gave the address of well
come After prayer by the Rev.
J. Clizbe, Adjutant John Gregg gave
the reading of the Orders. The
fourth and fifth grade school children
marched upon the platform and sang
Michigan, My Michigan" following
this with the recitation of Lincoln's
Gettysburg Speech. In marching to
and from the platform the young
people showed remarkable training as
their time was perfect while they car
ried their bodies erect like veterans.
After a couple of recitations and
songs, Rev. A. F. Bruske was intro
duced
In his introduction of DR.. Bruske,
Prof. Mitchell said, 1--WE are espec-
tally honored to have one address us,
who was a veteran of the Civil War. "
DR.. Bruske spoke upon "The Vision
of Peace and the Fact of War"
Man" he said, "has always been
and must ever be a fighting animal -
He described mans first struggle
against the elements of nature; His
fight with the wild beasts; and final
ly his war upon his fellowmen in his
aggression for power and territory.
Next the speaker contrasted the
beautiful visions of peace as against
the stern realities of war. "Civiliza-
ton endures war for peace he con-
tinued" Had there been no Their
mopylae, there would have been no
Greece and all the beautiful works
would not have been. But for the
battle of Trafalgar, there would have
been no peaceful commerce of the
seas. Had there been no Bunker Hill
there would have been no United
States. Had there been no Gettys-
have been no Union and no nation
embracing ninety-hve millions of
souls. These are the monuments of
war" In contrast to these, he point
ed out the monuments of peace, the
International Peace Conference, the
Hague Tribunals, and the beautiful
palaces in which justice is meted out.
Again in strong contrast, DR..
Bruske pictured the great navies and
gigantic standing armies. These he
marked as facts Of war "The war
with Spain made the United States a
world power" Since that time this
country has built navy second only
to that of Great Britain. He review
ed the cost of maintaining the army
and navy, showing that two thirds of
the national revenue is used for the
building Of warships and the keeping
of an army and navy.
who shall rule the Pacific?" was
the next subject discussed. The spea-
ker predicted war over this issue.
Shall the United States rule the ocean
on the west or shall the Orient rule
that body of water? Military experts
tell of a war that seems inevitable be-
tween the Orient and the Occident.
In this war the United States would
be interested and it is fo this war
that this nation is keeping her army
and navy constantly equipped "Why
not let a tribunal composed OF men
from the Occident and the Orient,
who will be guided by an clightened
Christian conscience, govern the Pa
cifc" asked DR.. Bruske.
The next thing dealt with was the
probable war between Germany and
England England gained her vast
amount OF possession through CON
quest Germany is overcrowded and
needs more territory. 1t is natural
that Germany should secure new
lands through conquest and the pos
session Of England were the only
ones that are obtainable. DR. BruskC
eloquently pictured the German of
fcers as they met at their banquet'
and touching glasses drank toast
to "The Day THAT day" said the
speaker, "is the day when Germany
shall fly at England in the quest ot
new lands" In this war. Germany
Austria and Italy will be arrayet
apainst England. Erance and Rnssia