Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-01
TELLS ARMY NEEDS
TO BLUE AND GRAY
Henry c. Breckenridge, Assist
ant Secretary of War, Speaks
at Manassas Peace Jubilee.
PREPAREDNESS OF NATION
KEYNOTE OF HIS ADDRESS
Talks Also Given by Veterans of
Both Sides When Memorial
Tablet Is Unveiled.

In speaking yesterday at the unwilling
of the tablet commemorating the nation
al jubilee of peace at Manassas, Va,
Henry c Breckenridge, assistant secre-
tary of war, sounded the note of prepared
ness and asked the thousands of veterans
and men and women of younger genera
ton what they intended to do for their
country The tablet unwilling was at
tended by veterans of both des Of the
great civil conflict. the tablet itself COM
memorating the first gathering in the
worlds history of the veterans Of two
armies which once fought against each
other Assistant Secretary Breckenridge
spoke in lieu of President Wilson. who re-
gretfulIy declined the opportunity to ap-
pear at Manassas at this time because
of the fact that his thoughts are mort
gagged and held by the problems presented
by the European situation.
In leading up to his appeal to be pre-
pared in a military sense, Mr.. Breckin-
ridge said:
If there were no other reason FOR de-
irving pleasure through meeting veterans
OF the civil war. it would give me pleasure
simply to stand in the presence OF men
VINO in common sense and by experience
know that you cannot improvise a soiuler
plumber or a doctor or good blacksmith
knowledge of Soldering Necessary.
1T is very congenial to the spirit OF
one whose work for the time being
places him in intimate connection with
the military establishment of the coun-
try to be in the presence of men who
know that something more than cour-
plane; that something more than pa
triotism iS required in the operation
of giant seacoast cannon that casIs
q ton of metal and explosives a nan
score miles with deadly accuracy .nat
in the making of an army there must
be more than willingness, more imam
courage. more than steadfastness,
more than patriotism. however great
and fundamentally necessary these
factors are-that there must be the
knowledge of soldering, which is a
special knowledge only to be acquired
by application and training,
THE veteran of the civil war has
learned and taught another great truth
necessary to be learned by every ensu-
ing generation This truth is that
nothin,, worth obtaining can be gained
without sacrifice. We near sreal
deal in these days about what the gov
eminent is going to do FOR the peopie,
and hear very little of what the people
are going to do for the government.
We hear much of the duty of the state
and nation to the individual, but we
near very much too little about the duty
of the individual to the state =; ana wa 10
taught that not only should the in
...u-ai .voK cut ~. his own an anat rs
but that he should also look out 1or
the affairs of the state and of the ma
ton. And in this school of thought were
bred on the soil Of this great state tne
immortal heroes from WASHINGTON ana
Jefferson to Lee. Jackson and In aoas
Now the text Is reversed and govern.
ment must not only maintain itself. oo!
also must perform no end OF duties aa 40
functions for the individual, some OF
which functions are the protection OF
himself from himself. The doctrine me-, OF
getting something for nothing seems
TO have great vogue in the presens
day. There is much more sr, use OF than une
there is use of the word duty" Except
for few extremist disarmers, Inc
great body of opinion in this country
wants the country to be sale .roH .
military standpoint. But nevei.neiee or
the National Guard goes begging 1or
recruits"