Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-08
Minister Commends Monu-
mental Associations EndeaVor

far easier 10 be brave than 10 be
coward. We have a great past to
encourage and stimulate US TO our
best We are the heirs of the genera
tions before US. We have inherited
their works, their names and their
dwellings Our obligations to them
increase with the passing years. As
patriotic citizens we constantly feeI
that we are under a debt OF obligation
which we never shall be able TO repay.
one Of the first indications Of the
decadence OF a republic is 70 forget
its heroes. When the fires OF patriot
ism burn low in the human heart then
tiOn begin Every school boy is famil,
lar with the fact that when Rome for
got the virtues Of her heroes then
her power passed from her. Ignoble
indeed will it be If we of this genera
ton forget the sense Of justice and
consequent obligation under which we
rest. How sublime was the utterance
Of Americas greatest commoner when
he said OF this. ~ is for us. the liv-
ing rather to be dedicated here TO the
unfinished work that they have thus
far so molly carried on. l. is rather
for us 10 be here dedicated to the
great task remaining before US, that
from these hOnored dead we take in
creased devotion TO the cause for
which they here gave the last full
measure Of devotion: that We here
highly resolve that the dead shall not
have died in vain" These words,
spoken by President Lincoln in the
presence OF the dead at Gettysburg,
may fifty become u challenge for our
service for all the years to come.
r1me Of the men whose memory
will be forever enshrined in the love
of all patriots sleep in the depths
Of the sea, some under the sod and
the dew" in old Virginia. some on the
red cliffs from Gettysburg to the guf
and some by many
Rivers margin, where. across the
leagues.
Chlldrens fond thoughts, and wom-
ems memories come,
Like angels, to sit by the sepulchre."
No graves we're ever more eloquent
than these.
Some of the men whom we will hon
or are still with us. They are our
/ first teachers in patriotism In an
impromptu address delivered by ex-
President Harrison May 80, 1884, he
said. Those who did not share in
the glory of the victory should share
in the building of a monument TO the
memory of the men who fought for the
country" Let US honor ourselves in
honoring them Such a memorial as
is proposed ought to arouse owe for
the heroic. a love OF country, love
for the Anglo-Saxon race. 1t ought
to stir that subtle and sublime spirit
that slumbers in every bosom that
rises Gbove the narrow confines Of
serisnness and measures itself by
the wants of mankind. that inspired
and inspiring spirit Of all-dominating
ambition Of possible nobility that is
yet dormant in large measure in the
men of our times. And may it be
as the youth OF our day commune
with the spirits OF our mighty past
that they may catch the radiance and
rro0ect IL out upon the worlds dark
ness.
Practically IN every city of any con
sequence I'm our and monuments have
been erected commemorative to deeds
Of valor Of our soldiers and sailors
Should not Rock Island respond
promptly and generously Let us out
% the spirit of true gratitude rear ;
monument that shall stand for cen
turtles to teach other generations tina
this union is one and inseparable
now and forever"
r. +. NEWLAND.
Minister First Methodist EpisCopa
church.