The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-14
United States in Cuba. had been sunk
In Havana harbor.

United States in Cuba, had been SUM
In Havana harbor.
4 Our young men sprang to arms
The only true preparedness. the mar
tial spirit, was theirs. In few shor'
months, naval victory had been
achieved at Manila, another at San
tiago, a land victory at San Juan Hill
and before our own militia had been
called further than the fever camp al
Jacksonville, the war was over, and
| Spain reduced from second rate to
| a fifth rate power.
| This is not said in spirit OF spread
eagleism. but there are some facts
young America needs to be reminded
of. when Europe sneers at us for not
rushing pell nell into a quarrel not OF
our making. The battlefield cannonad
| ing deafens Europe, the smoke blinds
their eyes, the lust of blood infects
them, and they forget that in another
hemisphere, the songs Of birds are
audible, the stars of heaven visible
| the brotherhood of man a vital doc
/, trine.
Can we observe Flag day more MT
tingly than in calling to mind the
achievements of the flag in our last
national conflict? LEST we forget.
lest we forget"
Mr.. Lotion, as mayor of this city, i
as vice regent of the Re .kuk chapter
Daughters of the American Revolu-
| ton, present to you this Maine mem
orial tablet.
Mayor Is introduced.
II have the honor to introduce May
or Lotion, who will speak in behalf of
the city, Mrs. Collier said in asking
the mayor to accep. the tablet.
The Mayors Acceptance.
The following is Mayor Lotions
acceptance of the Maine tablet:
Ladies of the d. A. R. and fellow
citizens OF Keokuk:
Gas the official head of the mum
icipal government of this city,
very pleasant, and at the same time
a very solemn, duty devolves upon
me today 1t becomes my privilege
to accept. on behalf of Keoiuk and
its citizens, this beautiful and appro-
pirate monument comm emorating the
sinking of the battleshlp Maine IN
Havana harbor and the stirring days
which followed so closely upon that
historic event.
ut is most appropriate, on this
day which has been set apart as
day when we may especially honor
the flag of cur country, that we
should take occasion to pause in the
midst of our employments and mere
dedicate this beautiful and enduring
remembrance of an event, which was
fraught with most significant mean
ing and most far reaching results 10
this beloved land of ours.
prior to the Spanish-American
war, the United States had, in q
certain sense, lived unto itself and
had not claimed its rightful place nor
realized its full destiny among the
ton of the Maine marked the begin
ming of the awakening of this country
to it's mission as world power and
as a champion of humanity. We be-
gan to realize that, even as men can
not he unmindful of, nor unaffected
by environment, neither can nation
live apart, and be unheeding OF what
is transpiring in the great theatre OF
the worlds events.
1T is. therefore, most fitting that
this historical event in our history
should be commemorated and that
the example of the brave men, who
gave their lives to their country ON
that fatefu1 day in February, 1898,
should be commemorated and tnat
the generations to come shall have
before them this tangible reminder OF
noble sacrifice and patriotic devotion
to duty.
ut is a source Of the iveliest sat
isfaction that we have in America to-
day a band of women whose efforts
are largely devoted to the fostering OF
patriotism and who, as a means TO
that end, have undertaken to ever
keen green the memories OF our ma
tion's glorious past. All over TINS
broad land the Daughters OF the
Revolution have reared monuments
and tablets which daily shall serve
&C reminders of the brave deeds and
,rnselfish devotion of those who nave
made America the home OF freedom
and the great exemplar OF civilization
and enlightenment
"Keokuk is fortunate in that IL mas
the .Keokuk chapter OF the daughters
of the Revolution. To you we are
already indebted for yonder beautlrul
monument, of which we are so proud.
And now you have again made US
vo,r debtors by the gift of this en-
during tablet fixed upon this everlast-
inp rock. where it shall remain 70
teach our children, and our children
children one Of the great lessons IN
citizenship.
"Nor does our debt to you rest
alone upon these tangible evidences
of your love for your city and your
country, for above all are we IN,
debted to you for the patriotic ana
devoted womanhood which dweHs IN
cur midst.
at is therefore, Madam Regent and
members of the Keokuk chapter OF
the ID. A. R., with the keenest sense
of our deep obligation to you that l.
on behalf of Keokuk and its citizens,
most gratefully accept the Maine
tablet which You have here erected.
We return to you our sincere thanAs
60 tbis monument which will grace
one of our city's loveliest spots. We
congratulate you upon the success
which has attended your endeavors
in the past, and we extend to you cur
heartfelt wishes for the continued