News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-05-31
Memorial Day in Morrisville

On account of the threatening weather
the streets were not as well filled as
usual to watch the Memorial Day pa
rade yesterday, but the town hall was
filled in the afternoon, when a most ex-
cellent program was given, the address
| by Rev. W. E. Baker being one of the
best ever heard on similar occasion in
| Morrisville. There were seventeen Vet
Grams, twelve Sons of Veterans, members
| OF the w. X. c. Auxiliary and school
children in the line. which was headed by
the Morrisville Military Band. followed
by company of Modern Woodmen in
uniform. w. G. McClintock acted as
Marshal of the Day.
Mr. Baker devoted much of his address
to Preparedness and in the course of his
remarks said as follows:-
America is not less fortunate than her
sisters of antiquity in possessing the
stuff of which heroes are made, and it is
because of this spirit which burns SO
brightly. sending out its glittering beams
into the nations life, that Memorial Day
is celebrated, and its message-so oft re-
allied but never aforementioned to
prompt us to new expressions of patriot
ism and honorable citizenship.
believe that at this time there is rest
ing upon America a tremendous obiiga-
ton. Having founded her national life
upon principles that in essence are very
close to the basic doctrines of the gospel
of Jesus Christ, it is for her to set her.
self diligently to the task of preparing
the way for the whole world. The eyes
of the world are upon us. They may not
admit it, but such is the fact May we
not say WITHOUT any vain boasting or i'm
modesty, but with the subdulng of our
pride in the thought OF the responsibility
entailed, ."As goes America, 50 goes the
world" l venture the prediction that
before new century dawns, the last
crown will have fallen into the limbo of
discarded things; the last throne will
have been turned into work bench; the
last potentate will perforce, if not by
choice, have descended from his throne
TO take his place with those who lit
rather than with those who lean. Our
forefathers dreamed and their dreams
have crystalized into a splendid democ-
racy, and along the lines of our democ-
racy, with perhaps-and we may hopa
s0-improved roads TO travel over, will
the world eventually move. Now if we
believe in our mission we must be pre-
pared to go forward to the accomplish 1
ment thereof.
Despite the fact that am a disciple of
the Prince of Peace, still say that am for
Preparedness as one of the great policies
for this nation to follow at this time.
long for the coming of that time when
batteships will be turned into mission /
airy ships for the carrying of the gospel |
light and civiliz ttion to lands now be-
nighted, for the time when cannops will |
be remoulded into machines of con-
structive industry; when it will be as ab-
surd for man to appear on the street in
military uniform as to appear there to-
day in chain armOr, or in the flowing |
robes and sandals OF old Greece. But
that time is not yet. 1t were folly to be-
lieve that it is. Before that time comes
and contributing to its coming, must be
many days of strenuous fighting. There
must be the throttlipg of the giants of
Greed and Intolerance and Tyranny;
there must be the capture and bumiii-
alton of those who praDt about the "Di-1
vine right of kings" There must be the
use OF force that VIII undermine the
great superstructures of greed and SCI
fishness on the thrones of the earth.
hope and pray that America will be
the fist to lay down her arms and begin
the work Of disarmament. | trust that
this nation will be the pioneer in this
movement to show the rest of the world
how it is to be done, but to do 1t now
would be to invite our destruction as a
nation. You have some obligations in
the way of training your child before you
leave much candy or loose change within
easy reach. So there is to be some more
trainl of the less morally developed
nations of the world before such rich
prize as the United States of America is
left without reasonable amount OF pro-
lection.
The cry of majority of righi-minded
people in this country today is for pre-
paredDess, urging that the United States
be made great in physical power, not
that it might go shooting up the rest of
the world, like drunken cowboy, but
that its moral power be made effective (