Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-30
MEMORIAL ADDRESS OF JOHN X. SCOTT

full spectacle, as five long years OF
war and license had not made these
men unmindful of the obligations OF
nation and of home, and of their own
manhood.
Then, so lately, that we can still
hear in memory the whistles and the
bells that told us that war had been
declared, this young giant of the new
world, reached out to stay the hand OF
hoary Spain, the mother Of nations,
and TO save fair Cuba from deStruc-
ton at our very threshold. In that
short but glorious struggle old glory
passed over strange seas, and f1oatei
in the breezes of the far orient. Our
efforts in the Spanish war gave birth
to the Cuban nation, and in tones that
all people might hear and heed, we
proclaimed that slavery and injustice
will not be suffered to endure within
the sphere of our influence, and that
as a nation, we dedicate the western
hemisphere as the home of the newer
idea of liberty, with which the old
world must not interfere, The Spanish
war reafirmed the doctrthe that Amer
lea preached and enforced freedom,
not for her sons alone, but for all
men.
Must Be Prepared.
Have these wars been in vain. Has
all this treasure of life and love ami
the nations substance been poured
in vain on the altar of battle? Who will
dare say it, or deny the manifest des-
tiny that has led this nation down the
years, ever growing in riches and pow
er and influence, until now, in this
mad hour of world wide war, we stand
out supreme among all the nations Of
earth. Yet, as war and the willing
ness of her sons to fight for right
and freedom, have made this nation
largely what she is today, 1t will on
ly be by a continuance of this same
spirit on the part of our people, and
not alone by a willingness, but by an
ability to wage war, that our influence
will be felt and respected by the 9TH
er nations of earth. AS a nation we
must fear war and shun it, but when
er duty and honor calls, the nation, as
well as her sons, should be determ-
ined, courageous and prepared.
Lesson of the Flag.
/ "In this great melting pot of the ma
! tons of men of all races, and Of all
| forms of belief, l want that our ma
tional emblem may be token COM
mon to all, of the things that they hold
| dearest and of most value. To Jew and
Gentle. Catholic and Protestant, black
and white, to all who are reaching out
| for a greater measure of life and lib
erty and happiness, l want that they
/ shall see them all embodied in the
I shining folds of that glorious emblem,
| want them all to love it. to know that
| it is theirs and stands for them, and
that wherever old glory floats, lib
erty, both religious and civil, is the
heritage of all beneath its folds.
For the sake of the dear dead who
have passed beyond, for our own
sakes. and that of the nations chill
dren yet unborn, let us here and today
| dedicate ourselves to the nations ser
vice, and go about our several ways
preaching by our lives, sermons OF
liberation. justice and equality among
all who dwell beneath the folds of
that flag.
I'VE will lay a wreath in loving
memory on the graves of the nation :
dead. in all its wars, and breathe UP
into the great beyond our prayers OF
gratitude and devotion"