New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-05-12
Written for the Enterprise.
ELKS PATRIOTISM.

4
rendered last Monday night t
] the soldier boys who have yolun
teered their services and answered
the Nations call in defense Of tia'
and freedom. The informal meet
. ing at the Elks Home, where Thu
, especial guests Of honor, thes'
boys, the future soldiers Of toWl
and neighborhood, were showere(
with admiration, love and encour
, agement, was not only highly
creditable success, but a spontan
eous manifestation of patriotism
an acknowledgment of the high
est service expected of American
! citizenship.
The addresses were full OF fer
vor and zest and a credit to the
idealism, which we insist, is the
powerful moral dynamo in the de
veIopment Of our national enfold-
ment. Mr.. Nentress J. Smith, as
chairman, in eloquent and beautl-
full diction, covered all phases Of
patriotism and aroused his hear
ers to high pitch of frenzied en-
thusiasm. Mr.. Walter J. Bur ke S
dissertation on citizenship and
national traditions must be claSsed
gem Of eXtemp0raneous oratory.
Mr.. Edwin Broussard s cogent
reasoning and convincing logic
revealed a familiarity with the
causes that started the catacl ysmlc
conHagration in Europe, that
would do credit and honor to
professional diplomat and practl-
cal statesman. Mr.. Jules Drey
fus' discussion of the power Of
Americanism and free government
on the thought and life Of con-
tinental Europe in its ultimate re-
suit, meant, in its last analysis a
gradual approachment and close
league and partnership of all free
peoples Of the earth. The after
math will have realized the spirit
of the grand fraternity of the
universal brotherhood OF man.
Mr.. Gordon Sandoz and Mr.. Joe
Jefferson and Judge Simon i'm
PEELED by the inspiration of the
occasion added most powerfully !
to the patriotism that dominated |
the ceremony.
In rendering Internationally to !
the United States government |
their services, these boys have
symbolized the true genius Of the
Republic, the true life Of the Ma
ton. No man or woman, OF any
country, can do more than to
place on the altar Of the nation,
his body and soul, his all, his very
life. Every Elk spark that lights
up the dark, dismal road Of the
present holy warfare, is deserved |
by the sacrifices and the dedication
of American manhood and suffer-
ing womanhood. The tramp, the
step of our soldier boys, heard in
the wilderness of war zone s temp
est tossed night will reach the con-
demned victims of the befouled,
defiled zone of ruin and complete
and rekindle the
Pickering light of hope and faith
in man. Our nations boys are
new history. are record
new deeds of heroism. Every
page will be record of the tenn
per, the character the invinci-
bility, the grim resolution of de-
forged manhood and
vomanhood, and every chapter is a
of the spirit of righteous
ness and undisputed distinction
IF the nigh qualification of Amer
con citizenship. The future
American army, our trained, (
lrilled, American boys will take I
he traditional chivalrv and mag !
lanimitv with them. Every deed s
md action on the battlefield, in
he camp, in the workshop, as a y
,art of the whole war machinery, {
viii measure up to the standard ,
f that historic moral force and S
Individual devotion to lofty I
ause and purpose buried. reve- S
anced and respected in the tombs S
f Washington, the father of the
alton. and Lincoln the symbol of
paternity and charity.
This is not war of soldiers in :
he proper sense of the accepted C
erm. The nations in arms are \
citing the problems of the com ). !.
lg social and industrial relations a
n a basis of moral. humanitarian c,