Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-30
GEORGE c. wENcER PRAISES BOYS IN BLUE

George c. Wenger who delivered the
patriotic address at Chlppiannock
cemetery this afternoon said:
''Peaceable as we of this nation try
to be, history shows that America has
never been without its old soldiers
and the distance between wars has
never been so great that all have dleo-
Again the gavel ruled by Father lime
has fallen for the purpose OF calling
us to order and we have responded
and assembled among the silent sleep
ers of our country's honored dead. A
year ago some who sleep here were
keeping watch with us. They did their
part until the end. And we Of the
younger generation must take up their
work. Time is no respecter Of persons
| or places. | failed TO learn the num-
Der of dead of John Buford post of the
G. A. R. today, but l recall three years
ago, when | was called upon for a
short address at this place, there were
then 145 dead and los living. Those
three years have changed the number
we know, to an astonishing difference,
which calls our attention so wildly to
| the sad fact, we SO often overlook, but
know so we'll.
Is Patriotism Waningl
Fifty years from now the grizzled
! veterans of the Spanish-American war
somewhere in the vast cemeteries of
our land, will place flags and strew
| flowers as we have today. We regret
that we cannot show enough respect
| by acts and deeds for our living and
dead heroes. And we are sorry that
| this day is sometimes debauched and
that the purpose Of its observance is
sometimes neglected. Forgetting, or a
seemingly Indifference of the deeds of
valor, the self-sacrifice of those who
responded to their country's call when
the life of the nation hung in the bal
anCe perhaps tends to show decline
/ in patriotism and if there are many
who have apparently forgotten that
there is any Importance to be attached
to this annual observance, then we
hope that the cost will not be too great
to pay for the sometime result of such
Indifference.
| Again history shows that we are
not secure from war and if trouble
should come to our country the further
patriotism is in the wane the greater
the cost Of human life to those who
shall first respond to the call of the
country. Has it not been so in the
past? Was it not true in 1872, only
80 years after that daring struggle OF
our revolutionary fathers who planted
freedom on this continent and dedi-
Gated the flag to liberty forever? But
after 80 years as a nation, recognized
among worlds nations, our forefa-
theirs probably laid too much stress
upon the richness of the land, its vast
resources, perhaps thinking that j.
need be all that had tot done was tc
call on the citizens, draw on those re.
sources and with our natural protec.
ton of the oceans, and under such cir.
lcumStanceS, who would dare to lane
an army ON our shores? But has il
not recently been demonstrated thai
France, better protected than we are
and the Balkan states, lost so much
of their country that contained theil
best resources by insufficient protec
ton, leaving them to fight a harder
fight because of that? In our owl
country in 1872, an enemy army wa!
landed and before our people coulC
call upon our natural resources, oul
army was driven back, our capitol was
burned, Washington, our capital city
taken, our president forced to e
in hiding and human life paid the cos
until patriotism was rekindled, requir
ing as many years as it should have
months, before victory was ours.
Again was it not our condition O.
insufficient preparation prior to 1S45
that for two years following cost Sc
much blood and self-sacrifice by those
that followed our flag against a for.
eign foe from Red river to the RiC
Grande, to Monterey, Chapultepec anC
Buena Vista and planted it upon the
ramparts of the halls of the Monte
zumas? Thus patriots have ever re
lspOnded, regardless of conditions tha
might have been better.
The Dark Days of 81.
Leaving the patriots of old, George
Washington when he rushed from hi!
plantation, Putnam when he left hi!
oxen in the furrow, Lafayette leaving
France, kosciusko and Pulaski
! their Poland, Steuben his Germany
land privates of every nation. we come
to time in our history when the ties
came whether we could govern our
selves. Neighbor was to rise agains
neighbor, brother against brother
friend against friend, on account o
that one dark blot, one cruel excep
ton in our organization. one baC
stone in our foundation, tolerated b,
our fathers in the erring faith that i
would soon die, but destined to brint
its terrible harvest upon US, remind
ing the world that as truly as of ma
tions as of individuals, as it is writ
ten that whatsoever is sown shall b.
reaped. How well you members o
the Grand Army of the Republic cal
call to mind those dark days of omin
Gus mutterings preceding the fury o
THAT storm which swept over this ma
ton of peace. You recall how mel
went to their daily toll with heav.
hearts, and anxious minds, with tn,
|dread foreboding that perhaps befor,
the sun had cast its last lingering ra,
upon that starry banner it might b.
assailed by rebellious hands. How tn,
news of the firing on Sumpter fel
upon your ears, that shot that echoed
around the world; how Europe pre-