South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-31


Spanish-American War Veterans. as
Memorial day exercises. Atty. A +.
Martin said
The Spirit OF Liberty"
We have met today 20 honor the
heroic deed: to commemorate the
heroism Of the brave boys in blue
and 10 instill in the minds and hearts
OF the American people greater pa
tnotism and higher regard for the
institutions Of our land.
We have visited the graves Of our
dead comrades. Loving hands and
tender hearts have decorated those
graves with beautiful flowers. We
have placed the flags on the little
green mounds. we have wreathed
the monument for the unknown
dead: we have scattered roses upon
the waters in honor Of the brave
boys who sleep beneath the waves.
we have ceased our labOrs. forgotten
our cares. and are living over again
the scenes from 81 70 '65. and now
We gather together this afternoon
in public halls. in theaters and audi
forums. in public buildings and pri-
vate groves 20 listen 10 memorial ad-
dresses. This all is the spirit Of
liberty
Beginning OF Liberty.
Three centuries and nine years
ago our forefathers left home
friends and native land and braved
the dangers Of an unknown sea, the
wild beasts and hostile Savages Of a
new country. the miasmatic and nat
ural influences Of an Unbroken for
II. i'm order that they might found
on this continent a new nation, con-
ceived in political and religious lib
erty. They came 10 the land Of Op-
portunity where they might worship
God according to the dictates of
their own consciences and where
men might enjoy the inalienable
rights OF life. liberty and the pursuit
OF happiness. The men who landed
on Plymouth Rock and jamestown
beach brought with them the Bible.
the guide book and sOle-star of their
private and public life. Every
colonial charter. every state cOnsti-
tuition and our great national con-
stitution bears the impress Of the
teachings Of that imperial aook. and
these instruments are bUL refec-
ton of the thought and life OF Cod
fearing men. They breathe forth the
cause of freedOm-the spirit of lib
erty.
The spirit of liberty from the
dawn of creation 10 the present hour
has dominated mans every action.
II has urged him to strive TO be free:
to gain the mastery over the forces
OF nature and make them subservi-
emit TO his every need; TO free him
self from the slavery Of ignorance,
superstition and poverty; to free
superstition and enthrallment OF
slavery; to free himself from the
dictatorial rule Of church and state.
OF priest and ruler; 20 free himself
rom rites, ceremonies, castles and
creeds: to stand forth free indie
pendent. noble-browed. fair-cOunte-
uanced, intelligent creature of the
great God OF the universe. This
same spirit prompted Moses and
Aaron to plead with the PharaOhs
OF Egypt TO let the children Of Israel
20 up out of a land of bondage
across the Red sea into the land of
freedom-the land OF Canaan.
Growth or Liberty.
This spirit of freedom and loyalty
TO ones native land immortalized
the 800 Spartans who fell at Their
mopyIae as they beat back the Per
sian hordes: IL has made famous the
names of Plataea and Marathon;
it spurded our Anglo-SaXon ances-
tors of the German forces on to
greater efforts in the resistance and
overthrow of the tyranny and OPP
preston OF imperial Rome; It forced
from successive rulers of England
he Magma Charta. the Declaration
OF = lights and the Bill OF Rights: il
drove the Puritans and Cavaliers of
England the Huguenots of France
and liberty-loving people OF England
across the Atlantic 20 American
shores: it = rOte the Declaration of
independence. the constitution, the
Monroe doctrine and the Emancipa-
ton Proclamation; it drove Spanish
tyranny FROM Cuba. the pearl of the
Antilles. gave republican form Of
government 10 South American col
onies and taught by precept and eN-
ample the lasting benefits OF free
Institutions. free government and
free people TO the countries of
Europe and Asia. until today We
have the republics of Switzerland
and France in Europe and China in
Asia. and a constitutional form of
government among the majority of
the other nations Of Europe
our fOrefathers had fought and
struggled for years for political
civil and religious freedom They