Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-30

from every nation. bearing with them
every sort of ideal and tradition of
government, religion and social life
The last quarter century has seen a
new tide of immigration coming from
southern and eastern parts of Europe
people of meager education, dis
posed to congregate in large cities.
They reproduce and perpetuate every
thing of the old world ideals and GUS
toms.
To instruct these newcomers in the
principles of democracy, TO excite their
desires to become citizens, to encour-
age the laying aside of old world Gus
tome. and to inspire love and devotion
by our own exam as of loyalty, is one
of the greatest manifestations of patri-
'otism which Americans can make to-
day.
Praise for the Elks.
There is no need for a cry of ca
lamity. Our citizens are awakening to
the issue. Concentrated efforts are
being made to solve the problem. The
federal government has set about to
assist in the task. More ceremonies
such as Moline lodge of Elks recently
held are needed The infusion of new
blood, the introduction of a variety of
characteristics, produces a healthier,
stronger. more progressive nation.
America has been called the melt
ing pot. The pride and prejudice,
dreams and sacrifices, traditions and
superstitions, things sordid, as Gang
well has said, all merge into the cru
chile Within this crucible is the mix
ture, and carefully are the flaming
fires of devotion to the country kept
burning
Peace to all the unborn millions,
fated to fill this continent, let US say.
The God of our children give you
peace"
At Arsenal Cemetery.
Our nation, standing as it is, at the
entrance of an era of world diplomacy,
needs the message which the G. A. R.
can give u.s." declared Rev. R. Wilbur
BabCock addressing the enormous
throng on Arsenal island this after
noon. And the entire civilized world
is looking to us to see if we heed that
message and bring to an end the ter
rible conditions now existing in other
parts of the globe.
I'VE need the message the G. A. R.
can give to us as a nation unit, was
one of the opening assertions. Our
nation is one worth dying for, if nee
eSSary, and this is what those remain
ing of that vast army which went out
and fought for the preservation of the
union in the dark days of 1876 were
ready to do.
THE United States is today stand
ing on the verge of a world diplomacy
whether she likes it or not" continued
the speaker. World conditions are
such that it is inevitable that the ma
ton We are proud to call our own must
be the factor in readjusting diplomatic
differences.
And if We are ready to respond to
this wonderful call to duty, so full of
possibilities and yet so filled with dan
ger, we must use those ideals set forth
by the Grand Army of the Republic in
1865.
But there is more than the danger
from without, great as that is, said
the minister. We are face to face
with internal dangers, many of which
loom UP almost equal to those from
without Our salvation as a nation is
to unite as one unit in overcoming
| these dangers. Such a spirit as these
Grand Army veterans exemplifed is
needed to shield us from great inter
nal threatened dangers as we'll as from
those without.
World Looking to Is.
THE entire world is looking to u.s.
Every people capable of thinking for
themselves have their eyes on US. Ev-
cry nation is watching the American
course. They are looking to us as
nation founded upon the principles of
liberty. They are looking for more
United States will take in the present
crucial moment; they are looking to
see if the one nation founded on lib
erty can endure.
Our government, in spite Of the
storms it has survived and the rocks
of danger which have been averted. is
still a comparative experiment. Can
that nation reign through the diff
Guilty? This is the question which the
entire civilized world is asking. 1t is
question which calls for an accept
ance of the ideals of those who risked
their own lives in their devotion to the
republic founded upon those lofty
principles, if the answer is to be in the
affirmative.
Lastly" said the speaker in clos
ing his forceful address. I'VE owe it to
the G. A. R. members themselves, those
still with us and those who have gone
on before, to show the same love and
patriotism which they showed in their
heroic sacrifices, as we go about our
daily walks of life. This is the true
tribute which we can paw to them