The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-08-30
uNpREPAREDNEss is cowARDIcE
Declares Col A. E. B. Stephens Before
the National G. A. r.

Kansas City, Mo-, Aug. 30.-"Unpre-
paredness in the last analysis Is nothing
more than cowardice' Col. 4. 4. i.
Stephens of Cincinnati, commander in
chief OF the Sons of Veterans, said in his
address of greeting at the encampment
of the G. A. r. here last night.
True patriotism, my comrades, not
only means love of country and that she
should be welded to the great doctrine
of peace. Justice and liberty, but it also
means love and veneration to those IL
lustrous spirits, who suffered and died
that this country with all its splendid
traditions and history might live" ne de-
clared. Eve, who have come up since
the Civil war, having coursing through
our veins the blood of those gallant men,
should learn of them lessons which we
need for the twentieth century. We
should catch their spirit OF absolute de-
votion which gave up everything Tor
the republic and counted life not dear
We should follow the example OF those
who found Joy in sacrifice and their
highest rewards in the sweet, stern lace
of their country as she smiled upon them
ere they died My comrades, we live IN
deeds, not years.
"As American citizens we have re-
ceived our precious heritage OF liberty at
the price OF sacrifices, made first by the
founders and later by the preservers OF
the republic We live in blood bought
land and under a blood bought flag
Ours is a costly citizenship. 1t is build
ed upon the best blood and treasure OF
the nation from Bunker hill to Manila
bay In this as true patriots we glory.
But let us ever remember that IN the
lives, patriotism, sufferings, and history
of the soldiers OF the great Civil war, the
best things of life are ours to enjoy to-
day
81 believe I voice the sentiment of ev-
ery patriotic heart before nfe to-day
when | say | am a firm believer in the
policy OF preparedness and ample and
thorough preparedness at that. All the
traditions of our country point with I'M
erring fingers to the necessity and wis
dom of that policy | am for national
preparedness that will create respect for
the United States the world over. |
am for a policy of trade protection and
even handed Justice for all. | am an
American that sees America first, Tor
patriotism that means more than mere
response to the colors patriotism that
means an undying devotion to our land,
an unflinching loyalty, vigilance and rev.
erance for the flag, for all the traditions,
history, and brave men that belong to
this great nation of ours No nation
can be weak to-day and strong in eff
cheney tomorrow. would be Just as
much ashamed to be rash and unprepared
as | would be coward, for unprepared-
ness in the last analysis is nothing more
than cowardice.
True value, my friends, is self-re-
specting. The valor is eircumspeet. The
valor strikes only when II is right TO
strike. True valor withholds itself from
all implications and entanglements and
waits for the great opportunity when
the sword will fash from its scabbard
as if it carried the very light of heaven
upon its blade. That is my sentiment
and feeling in this critical period OF our
nations history, sentiments which | feel
find responsive echo in the breast of
every loval veteran and son of a veteran
before me this day, and | feel ] do not
in any sense violate the proprieties of
this occasion by their enunciation and
declaration