Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-30
CITY IN ATTRIBUTE
TO SOLDIER DEAD
Thinning Line OF Veterans Makes I'M
preSsive Appearance in Annual
Memorial Day March.
EXERCISES AT THE CEMETERIES
superintendent Mahoney Gives Grafton
at Riverside and Rev. Babcock
at Arsenal Island.

upcn participating IN exercises in MEM
ory OF the boys in blue, who half a
hundred years ago fought upon the
bloody battlefelds of the Civil war that
their country might remain intact, the
sun Shone with CHEEKY brightness and
the day proved ideal for the occasion.
As has been the custom of past wears
In this city, services were conducted
in the morning at Riverside cemetery.
It was with feeling of sorrow that
the many who gathered along the line
Of march 10 the burial grounds viewed
the thin and wavering and abbreviated
line OF men in blue that march to the
accompaniment OF martial music But
the spirit of those veterans of this ma
TONS greatest conflict was no less
sturdy Aged backs Strengthened, dim
eyes blaZed once more as the martial
strain rang out, the folds Of the flag
they had fought for and saved f1ut-
tered in the breeze as they took I'D
their march to Riverside cemetery TO
decorate the graves of comrades who
had died TO honor the memory of all
the men in blue who swept slavery
from the land and made the union one
and indivisible.
A squad of police headed the pa
rade, clearing the street of the throng
that crowded back to line the curbs.
Followed, the bands, the naval re-
serves the militia, the patriotic organ
izatiOns of the city. The program was
previously announced. L. A. Mahoney,
superintendent OF the Moline public
schools, delivered the address of the
morning.
To teach patriotism, to encourage
those coming here from foreign lands
10 become Americans in all that the
word Americanism can imply, and to
regard war, in the words of General
Grant, as merely a means of keeping
peace, remembering its brutality as
well as its bravery. its horror as well
as its heroism, its grief as well as its
glamor. and its awful loss a well as
its gain. were the thoughts brought out
by Mr.. Mahoney. who delivered an elo-
quent address at the forenoon eXer-
CiseS in Riverside cemetery.
The greatest sacrifice which man
can make is life, and next to the sac
Tifce of lite comes the risk of life, -
he said. TO establish the cause of
the Divine Creator His Holy Son could
do no more than offer up His life.
Martyrs of all ages gave no more
None will deny that to them belongs
the first tribute.
Nor were all the battles fought on
the fields OF carnage. All the suffering
and heroism was not displayed by the
men. Let US not forget the broken
homes, bereaved parents, widowed
wives and orphaned children. Let US
drop a tear today in memory of their
noble sacrifice and loving devotion.
Is Glorious Tribute.
These graves before US are hal
lowed earth. The establishment of this
holiday. this ceremony OF appreciation,
our contribution Of floral offerings on
their graves, constitutes a sweet and
simple tribute, more glorious than any
ever offered to human being in the
history Of the world Only a few of
our vast citizenry are entitled to wear
the insignia which classes them as
comrades with those whose memory
We seek to honor
Purpose of this holiday is to inspire
patriotism, as well as to commemorate
the deeds OF our dead patriots, in Or
der that free government may con-
time. We are apt to rest content with
Sangulne assurance that blessings
gained il the dim and distant past, at
the cost of precious life, are, in some
way assured TO US as a perpetual in
herltance. These veterans who served
70 establish this blessing are looking
with anxious eyes to the younger gen
Grafton, pleading with them to be dill
gent in their watch and steadfast in
their defense of our great treasures.
We who inherited our many blessings
without pain and privation are apt to
imagine they can never disappear, and
TO grow careless in our guard.
High in Citizenship.
The soldier of the republic" de-
clared the school superintendent, has
ever been identified with the best in
American citizenship. He has al
ways held the respect of all classes.
and around mis- f1reside patriotism is
taught as nowhere else. He is a man
VINO may well be defended from the
charge Of militarism.
Let US have peace" he continued.
No one who has ever witnessed the
awful carnage Of battle can plead for
mllltarism. The fruitage of war is
tanker and sorrow, grief and care, and
dS teacher of our youth ] am con-
cerned IN presenting our history so
II m hnlt Fri en-
ana so that il may present both sides
VI the shield to view-the brutality
Aonor, grief and awful loss, as well as
the bravery. heroism, glamor and gain.
Long in Recovering Losses.
only during the last % years has
me south commenced 10 recover from
the loss sustained in the Civil war.
Much OF this revival is due to northern
capital and enterprise. The great loss
10 both sections because of bitterness
ehgendered in the great struggle can
scarcely be estimated. There has
never since existed that full measure
OF sympathy. accord and cooperation
which should mark such a nation as
ours.
Our Civil war presents strange
spectacle, unparalleled in history. TWO
groups of people, sprung from the
same common stock, with the same
IDEALS, opposing each other, suddenly
rendering asunder all bonds OF broth
eFhood and union. They were at COM
piete variance on the one question OF
states rights, and for four long years
threatened the very foundation Of our
nation.
New Problems TO Solve.
his country is rapidly filling with
immigrants from every cline. people