Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-05-31
DOZEN VETERANS
ARE STILL LEFT
Continued from page one)

shall be free
"a famous American divine speaks
OF Jesus Christ as the prophet of world
democracy" said he. "The statement
will hardly be challenged, for, when we
come to careful analysis, democracy
is at its ultimate best and highest the
brotherhood of all men Now it is folly
| for us to be sending our men across the
sea TO die for this high ideal unless we
ourselves are willing to live for it here
/ at home-unless we ourselves are will
| ling to practise il in our daily relations
with our fellows We have been in
sisting upon Germanys restoration of
! Belgium, OF Bohemia, of Poland, of
Rumania Let us remember that the
men and women of these countries are
all represented in our own American
population,-and the Polish boy who
works i'll the Massachusetts, cotton mill
is as much our brother as his down
trodden brother in Russia. Let us not
forget that the same human nature
Characterizes the Italian laborer dig
ging in the sewer trench of our Ameri-
can cities and his brother who fights be-
side our American soldier in the battle
trench across the sea. Just in proper
ton as we practise the spirit of the
brotherhood here at home will our aid
be welcome when it comes to fighting
for it "over there" 1t may easily be
that the test question concerning de-
mocratiC world will be not are you will
ling to die for it," but Are you willing
to live for it,"
The address at the monument was by
the Rev, L, b, Holmes, to an audience
which surrounded the scene afoot, in
carriage and auto. He said, in part:
Take in address,
Gentlemen of the Grand Army, Citizens
and Friends
1--WE stand today under this monu-
ment, erected in honor of the sons of |
Middlebury who participated in the |
Civil War. 1t is a matter of record that |
the early settlers of the town were men
of high character and earnest purpose
may this monument ever serve to re-
mind us that in former crisis in our
national affairs that character and that
purpose were tried and did not fail
mere worshippers of ancestral virtues
the present crisis, knocking at our
DOORS demands far more than lip SER
vice to the glory of the past. The men
whose graves we decorate today, and
the gray bearded men whose surviving
presence feeds the nobler aspiration of
the younger generations, require today
not praise but action The men of IS
who bore forth the palm of victory in
a righteous cause, seek now a new COM
and will not be satisfied
until they see their sons bearing new
trophy that shall be beside theirs at
the Altar of Liberty.
Behold, from East and West, from
North and South, from every land
where waves the flag of Liberty, your
sons fastening to the combat. And not
with faltering steps do they go, and not
ike slaves forced to an unwilling task,
out briskly, with light upon their faces
and determination on their brow! Men
Of the Grand Army-if you seek your
praise, it is here! l am well assured
hat no tribute to your valor, formed
~ human lips and fashioned in lordly
phrase can touch your hearts as when
you see yourselves reflected in your
sons!
"This years memorial anniversary
pass without recurrence of that
note of sadness which, as the years go
)y is more and more associated with
he day. For it is manifest that every
year brings nearer the ultimate eXtinc-
ion of the Grand Army of the Repub-
ic And yet l trust that you have al
-eady, in what l have said, discerned
true sense in which the Grand Army
will never, never die As long as in
Americans there is still the courage and
he disposition to defend their liber-
ies-so long will the Grand Army live o
lmong us. What, today, are you-gray t
bearded men who stand so few among
is? Are you the Grand Army? You G
Know that you are mott You would not c
% wrong the memory of the comrades a
hat sleep They are the Grand Army, d
hey and you, and you-living and b
lead are one. For the Grand Army #
S more than an aggregation of living
men, 1t has soul to it, and that soul
ives in the very fabric of the American
Republic You can never associate
he Grand Army from America until i
america herself is dead Let the spir- =,
t pass out of her, let her sons become -
raven that they will not fight for her,
ct her citizens lose the CLEAN that they -
efuse to die for her-then and then ~