Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-19

where else in the world. Happy is the
woman whose home is in America.
at was a fortunate day when the
government decided to build the ar
gun factory in the United States. 1t
employs thousands of men and for
centuries to come will add to the tri-
cities There is no better situation for
an arsenal. far inland and absolutely
safe from capture by any foreign foe.
1t is not only a fortunate selection for
the tri-cities, but for the government
itself.
But we must not dwell too much
on our glorious past, We are still
here and we will have to preserve the
republic and as citizens we have duty
to perform. We are living at time
when the mightiest war OF all times is
raging. While we have not so far beeE
drawn into its awful vortex, every one
familiar with one Of the greatest in our
history. The crisis has not yet
passed Europe is war mad. 1t is our
duty as our fathers taught US in the
building OF Fort Armstrong, to pre-
pare for defense and congress will be
! remiss in its duty if it does not take
the steps necessary to place the nation
/ in state of preparedness.
i am an old soldier and l know
what unpTeparedness means. 1t is
crime to send raw, undisclplined
troops into battle. | know too, the
/ terrible cost of war"
Colonel Burr's subject was THE
Army and he paid warm tribute TO
its work in pioneer days and de-
nOunced those who are endeaVoring to
block the efforts to secure more ade-
quate preparedness. He said:
Tribute to Army.
/ THE history of Fort Armstrong is
/ in reality only a part of the history o.
! the army in its work OF exploring am
policing and opening up for settlement
/ the great middle and far west of our
country. To my mind the centennial
of Fort Armstrong would be incOm-
plete without a brief tribute to the
army which played such an important
part in its existence. Established for
/ the express purpose Of affording sta
.
I troll the Indians and protect the set
tiers in the immense prairies OF the
upper Mississippi valley. the fort had
! its brief period upon the stage Of his
tory and then made his exit, To Fort
Armstrong came many men who made
their mark on their country history.
Under it's protecting walls were decld-
/ ed questions and policies Of great I'M
portance to the middle west, yet po-
tent as was its influence on the future
/ OF this valley, Fort Armstrong was but
/ an episode in the history of our army.
While here the army did its duty, as it
always does, patiently and we'll, and
when that duty was completed 1t
moved with the pioneers to the reced-
| ing frontiers. there to continue its al
lotted work. In those days no states
man from these parts decried the
army's existence. No politicians hoped
to gain votes by disparaging its use
! fulness, denying its necessity. or at
| tempting to destroy its efficiency, and
no demagOgues urged class opposition
| to it because it might be used to COM
pei respect for and obedience to the
/. laws of the land. Preparedness was
I not an issue in those days, since the
men and women among the earlier set
tiers were of necessity prepared for
! the struggle for existence in a prim-
| tive world. Those were days of the
survival OF the fittest. The times de
manded men of brain and Drawn, Of
action and ambition, endowed with
will and wisdom, and ready for SER
vice and sacrifice. No ease loving an
aemics encountered this part of the
earth and no peace-at-any price para
nOics profaned these prairies with un-
patriotic palaver Then the army was
! the refuge and protection of the
settler The soldier was his valued
| friend and was welcomed and respect
ed as such.
| In New Fields Now.
| Since then the army has moved on
to new fields of endeavor. Today it is
found in Alaska Hawaii, the Philip
pines, China, Porto Rico, Panama and
Mexico, still doing its duty with out
fear or favor. and. as of old. appreci-
ated. honored and respected and not
decried or disparaged by those with
whom it comes in contact
But out of sight, out of mind, and
here in the middle west, the scene OF
its early labors and triumphs. are 10
be found alleged statesmen, fortunate.
~ few in number, who oppose its ex.
istence, deplore its necessity and sneel
at its efficiency, These maipatriots
| ignoring alike the lessons of the pas
and the facts of the present, woult
cripple our means of defense ans
Chlnafy our country. But the grea
patriotic demonstrations that have
been held all over the country in re
cent days are sufficient and pointed
notice to these misguided citizens
THAT our people are alive to the dan