The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-10-11
DIR. ELY'S ADDRESS
Del vered at the Farewell Re-
ceptiOn rendered Soldiers

the address delivered at the farewell
reception rendered the selected men
from Garrett county in the Empire
Thea re, Oakland, on Thursday evening,
Sept mber 9th:
DR. Ely said, upon being introduced
Mr.. Gilmor S. Hamill, chairmal OF
the arrett county Defense Committee:
IT darkest war clou of history is
hang g over Us, but or Cung men
arer Lying to the flag which i: the
emil! m of liberty.
I'VE dare not challenge the devotion
out boys to their country and duty,
and we are here to light to bid them
Gods eed on their mission of right and
usti: and valor a I'd to pledge them
Jur L,ofound gratitude graft ude
hat " i'll reconsecrs tie the true An erI-
an Spirit We will cheri their II en-
ries hile lite lasts Our cause is just,
Iw. fight fr fire dom in its tr, est
ense
"W have only & lod will fer , err
iuhy LioooSSy IbJbSh VIC hdNS AO
ymp by win her aristocra ~ rat
ould ppress aLd s. bjugate tn ~Cl d.
Ne u rot wal for conquest, III to
reveni it; not 10 al ex b to sta e.
ur ma lonal re lect requ'tei lis
sor arms
Our tuntry or her we ray,
Ga. voices ilent neve
orhe we'llfiy t, cJnew atc) = y,
Tn stars al stripes rev i
I'VE would not su NIT t red Ia I'D
ram anymo tina ! our fore ca 5
to -axation Aitho represe ltar0 !.
| ng continued wron we run IS ly
nIictel upon S al d OR IS nJ4s,i e
b the Imper ! e vernment against
rights, CON mer(e ami citizens of
t. e United States. Self respect and
regard for the rights If humanity could
nct bea, these wrong any longer. We
war the against tyranny, gainst the
high handed militarism which would
subdue the masses and bring them into
a world power under supreme dictator.
Truly we are in perilous times, times
that demand the sternest kind of self.
The souls of men are being tried. Across
Europe roles the roar of guns. Peaceful
villages burst into flames. Ships of
death sail the midnight sky and rain
the missiles of murder upon the limo
cent and defenceless. The world stag
gers and groans under the weight of
awful calamities. Homes are destroy
ed and hearts are broken. France is
bleeding at every pore and Is fighting
for her existence. She would have
been swept off the map if Imperialism
could have done it.
We are helping nation preserve its
integrity and its life. In such crisis
ardent patriotism and outspoken loyalty
to the U. S. must characterize our
citizens. Every idea that America has
cherished for 140 years is now threaten
ed with destruction. Shall we 20 on
our way as if modern civilization were
not at stake when thevery liberty which
our fathers brought to these shores, for
which they shed their blood, Is chal-
lenged to n death struggle?
''Shall we fail to do our best to pre-
serve our rights and liberties against
brigandage on the high seas, against a
diabolical officialism that dares to order
our ships off the sea and would DESTROY
our commerce? That would be to merit
not only the reputation of the country
but the censure of the God of nations.
1--WE are in it from a sense of duty
and duty is holier than rights. There
must be willing self denial and unstipt-
ed service which is the test of noble
citizenship. We are here tonight, to
give this public eXpression of our in
terest in our.brave boys who will soon
wear the dress of soldiers. Some of
them may prefer not to go. Why
shouldn't they2 4 Is that a mark of a
shirker? Never. Duty however de-
mands and they answer the roll call
cheerfully, say their good bye's and are
off to serve their country.
at is notzsaying anything detrImen-
tai to the patriotism of parents to say,
we would prefer to keep them at home.
Why shouldn't we? But our country
calls and though it rends the heart
strings and sewers the tenderest cords
of nature, yet we say, go. dear boys,
God be with you till we meet again. -
Abraham heard the call to sacrifice
Isaac and he went to the appointed
place. That was the trial of his life,
and he met it like true man, loyal to
supreme authority, and although at
the crucial moment, when the knife was
raised to STAY his beloved, the command
came to loose him, virtually and to all
intents and purposes. He had
sacrificed his son, who was dearer
to him than life, He did 1t out of a
sense of duty and he was honored of
God in so doing. And the boy! ne
might have objected, but he was a