Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-05-30

misunderstan God. The hate and
bitterness and the violence of Good
Friday drove the Incarnate life of
God into the tomb but only for
three days, until evil had done its
worst and spent its fury, and in so
doing committed self destruction.
And then the Incarnate life came
forth to reconstruct the world with
the truth, the hope, the joy of the res
direction. The blood of Europe and
Asia is only the growing pains,
amidst sin, of approaching maturity,
the birthpangs of a higher and mob
Ter order. We are not at war with
the German people, but we are at
war with the despotic and autocratic
German government. The great
masses of the German people have
absolutely nothing in common with
Prussian militarism, whose battles
they are forced to fight, and for
which they are compelled to suffer
and to die. 1t is not only against
our rights, but against the rights of
the world against true democracy,
Germany is wagi1g war :.
| We now turn our thoughts to the
cause OF why we are being assem-
bled here today. In this memorial
service, we perpetuate the memory
of men, who through much sacri-
flee and suffering, purchased this
noble heritage. If any sword can
CAIN the blessings of heaven upon
its crimson hit, it is the one dipped
in the blood of the Civil War. which
planted in our midst the tree of
American life and liberty The re-
suit of that war brought not only the
emancipation of the colored man,
but said to the nations of the world
the people in America are the sover-
eign rulers. We are glad TO meet
with you here today. May YOU long
live to enjoy these days. What
blessing it must be to know you have
lived long enough to see the north
and the south clasp hands, and the
principles for which you fought
maintained. May heavens sweetest,
richest blessings rest upon you all
and finally be crowned with ever
lasting life, is our PRAYER for you.
We are not unmindful of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps. You have done
a noble work in caring for depen-
dent comrades, their widows and or
phans. You have scattered seeds of
sunshine, good will and love May
these acts of sympathy and tender
ness bring you rich rewards I trust
on Memorial day the graves of those
who have crossed the great divide
may be remembered by you, Their
graves strewn with flowers. My
friends, one short appeal to al I1d
| am done. We have entered into
oh
tio1 of our rights and the rights of
others. Like David let us in the
name of God set up our banners and
do our bit. Perhaps some of Us may
stand by and watch the train pull
out, bearing our boy to enroll him
self among the defenders of our
country. The father may say | would
gladly go with him were it not for
these years. And although l may
never see his dear face again, the
boy / love better than life yet | will
give him and / will be proud to give
him. God has sent out the call What
is your response? The time has come
now for deeds. not words. The pace
for us is at the front in the thickest
of the fight We honor the young
Texan who carried our flag on the
point of his bayonet up Vimy Ridge.
Honor to our brave fellows who are
flying the stars and stripes in the sky
from their aeroplanes above the
lines of battle. Honor to those who
have already given their lives in the
name of liberty and for the honor of
America. Honor to the thousands
of Americans who are at this moment
| fighting on the soil of France. All
honor to our men here at home who
are already in the ranks. We must
all do our part 10 increase and con-
serve the material resources of our
country, for they may be needed. In
the name of God we will set up our
banners, and we win respond TO our
country's call and with the poet say:
I'm the beauty of the lilies Christ
was born across the sea;
With glory in His bosom that
transfigures you and me;
AS He died to make men holy-let
us die to make men free.