Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-02-26

the thought Of man. The principles for
which you fought in the sixties have be-
come so vital a part Of our national life
that we Of this generation cannot imagine
time when they were disputed. Seces-
sion and slavery can never again rear
their heads, whatever other questions are
contested.
Friends. the spirit OF 81 is not dead !!
1t is a living. impelling force Of the pres
ent day transmitted from father to son.
II that spirit were dead and buried with
the Civil War in vain was the struggle.
for this is an age of mighty issues calling
for solution by the members Of our gen.
GRAFTON.
We have no reason to doubt the power
OF the spirit of '6l in times Of war. 1t
was that burning ardor that caused our
boys to enlist by the scores of thousands
for the liberation Of Cuba in 'e8; it was
the same motive power that made the
thirteen marine boys glad to lay down
their lines for the Stars and Stripes at
Vera Cruz few months ago. We have
no doubt that the youth Of America would
rise as one body and spring to the defense
of their nation in the hour Of peril-would
gladly sacrifice life on the field Of battle,
but we fervently hope that the test Of
our S.nerican manhood will not be in the
pursuits of war. We cannot too strongly
emphasize our utter adherence Of all
that pertains to war. We feel within our
souls that the age Of fleets and armies is
passing. even as the age Of flint and
caves has passed. The fearful struggle
now waging over seas is the death
struggle Of an institution that could not
exist in the light of twentieth century
civilization. We pay debt Of gratitude
to the boys who died to preserve our ma
ton; we honor these boys Of 81 who
proved their willingness to lay down their
lives should occasion demand it; but yet
we cannot picture in our minds eye the
grandeur our nation would now have il
it had not been deprived Of its sterling
manhood by the tens of thousands in
those stirring times. We cannot tell why
that colossal slaughter was permitted to
be staged. The Great Teacher has de-
elared without the shedding Of blood
there is no remission of SINS" The price
paid for mans liberation from sin was
the blood of the Perfect Man. Perhaps
an All Wise Providence demanded the
wipe out the curse Of slavery and ransom
a racefrom earthly bondage. Let US of
this generation Judge not that we be not
Judged"
We do resolve that the sacrifices de-
manded of that generation shall never be
paid by our American youth in the future
We know that men perished in that con-
| fiict who could have advanced our social
and industrial development century or
two. Who can deny but an Edison, a
Burbank or Lincoln laid down his life
on many fieldp
We reverence the memory of our i'm
mortal Washington; we pay tribute OF
gratitude to our martyr president Abra-
ham Lincoln, but perhaps in time to come
we will place beside the name of Wash
ington-who established a nation by war
and Lincoln-who guided the nation
safely thru the storms of four years Of
bloody strife-the name OF Woodrow Will
son-the man who kept our nation a,
peace when all the world was drenehed
in wars crimson deluRe,
| AGAIN we repeat: Not on the heio vi
battle. but in the solutions Of the prob
lens Of peace would we have the quality
of American manhood tested. The pat
riotism that prompted men to lay dowr
their lives for principle in war times is
the same that impels men to battle fol
political purity today. We may never be
called to shoulder musket in defense oil
our homes and liberties, but the challenge
of evil and righteousness is as strong now
as it ever was When the moneyed GRIM
inal class wields so powerful an influence
in our nation, and when the hosts OF mon
opoly threaten to smirch our nationa
honor there is call to heroic service
While the liquor traffic continues to ea'
at our national life like cancer who car
declare that this is not an age OF vita
issues? These vital problems must b'
solved by the members of this generation
The question is. how will we solve them
The future Of America rests in our hands
Will we deal with these problems in TIT
light of self glory. self aggrandizemen
! and self protection; or will we come fortl