Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-06-01

was OeCIecG anu uHAtIy WIitScH iiSo
our constitution that every man had
a right to worship Go according to
the dictates of his own conscience.
No man had right to say how an
other should worship. That right
belonged to God alone.
In the war of the Revolution was
fought out the question of political (
freedom. A nation had right to
choose it's own form of government
and its head. The king had no divine
rights; the people were the sover-
eigns. That wonderful declaration of
human rights and liberties, the Dec
laration Of Independence, was given
to the world and seven long year of
bloody war fought for the political
freedom it proclaimed.
In 1912 was fought out the right of
our freedom Of commerce on the seas.
England had denied the right. She
ruled the yes and had a right of
might to impress our seamen and die
tate our commerce, but we gained our
rights and freedom of commerce. And
today England is fighting as an ally
Of America for the same freedom of
the sea she denied US then. Shall the
seas be free today, is one of the great
questions of the present war, or has
nation the right to destroy commerce
and lives as pirates of old on the high
seas?
In 1861 was fought out the great
question of racial freedom. Had one
race Of one color a right to enslave
another race Of another color? 1t
took over four years of bloody war be-
tween brothers to settle this question,
and to write into the constitution that
no mans rights were to be abridged
by coor or previous condition of servi-
tude. We owe to our fathers the set
tin gof this question.
In the war with Spain the horizon
was lifted and we looked across to
Cuba under the yoke of oppression and
we said to Spain that she had no right
to Cypress these people near our
shores, and we fought for Cuba her
battle of freedom from oppression.
With her came Porto Rico and the
Philippine Islands.
In the resent war the same dom
inant question of human rights and
liberty is being fought. 1t is world
battle with a world horizon. The
inspiration has been given by the bat
ties and victories of the past. 1t is Il
, battle of the people against Gear and
, Kaiser; the divine right of the king
or the divine right of the people to
choose their own rulers and laws
We cannot see the full outcome of the
warb ut by the revolution Of Russia
, hope sees star arising which we
, trust will be the overthrow of all
, tyrants and overlords and the victory
! of human rights and liberties for the
f world when little nations as we'll as
{ big shall have right to choose theil
: own rulers and form of government.
f No one generation could have solved
5 all the questions. Each has proved
: stepping stone for the next.
5 Our part is to acknowledge the debt
we owe the past. We are debtors tt
y the fathers. To the brave men who
fought our battles in the Revolution.
airy war, or that of 1872, and espe
\ cially that of the COS do we owe (
debt we can never repay. You car
not pay in money what you owe YOU
e mother for her care. She does MOI
I want your money, but your acknowl
f edgement of the debt. So do we ow.
e to these veterans to asy to them
$ We owe you what we are and VIVA
n our country means TO US in freedom
e and hope. We owe to you the inspir
alton and hope of the future. w,
are building onyour foundation ant
d hope to be worthy sons of your sacri
a fees. You faced sickness and dealt
for US. Your offering shshall not b'
e in vain, and we hope to pass on thu
2 fruits of your victories to others. w
will keep your graves green and strev
the flowers in memory of your brav,
n deeds, and plant the flag of our coun
try, the flag you loved SO we'll. ever.
Y year on your grave to keep ever gree
: the memory of your sacrifices for US
d And above all we need to acknow
d edge the part the God of battles play
O in history. Ii is not by our ow
e might or our power alone victorie
n have been won. Behind the dir
Il unknown standeth God within tn,
n shadows keeping watch above hi
a own. To Him we owe all our lib
critics and from His book we get tn
: inspiration of all our liberties. H
e is the God Of the nations and He
: working out thru them His plan an
h when the clouds of war are lifted W
v shall see His divine purpose and "
is trust the overthrow of all tyrants an
it oppressors of our race.
Is God Of our fathers known of old,
lie Lord of our far flung battle Ire