The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-31

Lincoln, in the few words spoken on
the battle field of Gettysburg in No
vember, 1868:
1t is for us the living rather
| to be dedicated here to the unfin-
! fshed work which they who fought
here have thus far SO nobly ad-
| vanced-that from these honored
| dead we take increased devotion
| to that cause for which they gave
| the last full measure of DEVOTION
On Sacred Ground.
There is something in the story OF
the day when those words were given
to the world almost as impressive as
the message. On the sacred ground
jof bloody battle were gathered
| thousands Of men and women. There
were soldiers who but a few short
months ago had lived and fought
through a shrieking hell of shot and
shell. For two hours they listened to
the polished words of a great orator,
Edward Everett, whose address was
followed by a storm Of applause
Then the president spoke. His
words bowed the heads of the aud
fence, saddened their hearts, yet fired
them with mighty resolve to carry
Vli lIle CAUSE III lItcuOll. 1NOI d SOuHu
greeted the conclusion Of Lincoln
speech, save a long mighty sigh, the
answering heart throb. The president
thought he had failed. but had achiev-
ed success that still lives, that still
and always will as long as men re-
main on earth
Why Honor These Heroes.
But war is terrible thing. We
have always abhorred it in this peace
full land Of ours Why then do we ex-
tol the virtues of the men who have
died on the field of battle? 1t is no
new thing that men should give their
lives for their flag and it's cause
whether the cause be good or bad.
Why then do we gather here on this
day? Since the beginning of time
there has been strife and combat. His
tory is one long tale of wars, of bat
ties, of heroes and ConQuerors. Men
have fought for their king and their
God They have laid down their lives
as freely for one as for the other But
what did it gain them, what did it
gain the world? Did it mean simply
shifting of power from one ruler to
LIE Gill VI OhC
nation at the expense OF another,
1t added little to the progress of the
world that Alexander the Great should
other with his Macedonian phalanxes.
There is no pity in the spectacle Of
man who has reached such an ex-
tremity, whose aims are SO low, that
he must shed tears when there remain
No ny,lH
must have been the thoughts of the
mighty Napoleon as he stood alone on
the black cliffs of ST. Helena? What
must have been the anguish in his
heart as he thought of the lonely
graves on the pattlefields where his
ambition had sacrificed the blood of
France? Visions Of powerful ma
ton engaged in peaceful pursuits
must have filed bis mind and vain re-
grets clutched at his heart that he had
not devoted his. almost super human
powers towards giving the world
new peace, new birth Of freedom.
Can Fight for Liberty.
at remained then for this nation Of
ours to teach the world that men can
fight for liberty alone without thought,
without desire for conquest. 1t re-
NAMED for this nation to teach the
world that men can fight to win free
dom for a weaker people, and win
ming that, return to their homes and
their work satisfied that right had
conquered The magnanimfty of the
victorious armies Of the north in deal
ing with the men of the south has no
parallel in all history.
"When near our shores the Span
iards crushed out the lives Of human
beings, the colors called our young
men and again we took up arms in
the beloved cause Of liberty Again
were sacrifices made and lives lost,
adding to the obligation Of posterity.
Cuba, suffocating under the tread Of
an iron heel was rescued by the Stars
and Stripes, and freedom given to a
people which could never hope to have
thrown off the yoke alone. Yet Column
bia asked no tribute from her enemy.
was satisfied with the victory Of right.
Conflict Worthy Of Principles.
"And now we are engaged in con-
flict which threatens to overshadow
in it's horrors. all that have gone be-
fore The call to arms has come
neace loving people have been forced
into war, and we know as we stand
here today that it is conflict worthy
of the great principles and aims OF
this mighty republic. President Will