The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1918-07-04


the things that do not belong to us
Our purpose is to so create defense
OF personal liberty that every indl
divual composing our nation is entitled
to the same privilege. the same right
to exercise his or her limit OF ability
in all the departments Of our Govern.
ment. In fact, we have a Government
that believes in all its citizens having
a voice in its Government, and that
wherever ability is shown that no cltl.
zen shall be excluded from participat.
ing in any branch Of public service on
account OF race color or previous con.
diti0n of servitude, and | will add.
gender, as very soon the women OF
this nation shall have all the rights OF
the men, and also the same pay for
equal services performed.
These are few OF the many priv.
ileges Americans enjoy under our form
OF Government, and the great Ameri.
can Flag we now dedicate is an answer
TO all these things in giving to the
world all that humanity holds dear,
and in defense u these things our Flag
will always be a beacon to lead the
way that all the world may know that
under this Flag there is safety, and
wherever this Flag waves, now more
than ever before in its history, win II
be honored and respected,
am wondering today whether Ger
many is discussing our Flag. or wheth-
er or not they are changing their opin.
ion in regard to the ideas our Flag
represents. One thing we do believe:
Germany has not been flying its flags
nor ringing its bells over victories
achieved Of recent date, and we are
half, If not fully persuaded that they
will change their tune in regard to
what America can do before the end
OF 1919.
America may have made mistakes in
the past tall governments dol, but as
time goes on mistakes viii be cor.
rected and matters of value Will be
encouraged and imperfections will be
corrected The war, as conditions pre-.
sent themselves today, is very favor.
able 10 us and TO the Allies generally
This is the most universal and most
destructive war in history, and our
peaceful nation is forced into it, not of
our own volitIon but because of what
we believe to be cruel exercise of i'm.
perial power that wants TO dominate
the world and that is opposed to in
dividual liberty, Cur nation does not
believe in any such idea of govern.
ment, and in order to continue our
democratic form of government we are
forced to fight
And will we fight? We certainly
Will We will not fight, however, UNI
I'll we are perfectly satisfied our cause
is a just one That time is here, IN
fortunate as 1t may be; and while
these moments and days are anxious
ones. we do not fear the final result.
First, because we have never yet been
beaten. Second, because we believe
We are fighting for the freedom of the
individual And third, because we
believe God will help those who are
helping humanity to enjoy equal priv.
ileges, as nearly as We know how as
a nation to bestow them.
With these thoughts in our minds,
our Nation today is doing miraculous
things and surprising all precedent in
the manufacture Of war materials, pro-
yiding ways and means that will al
ways be the wonder of mankind as to
how we have been able to do what we
have already done, and what we will
do from this time forth to prosecute
our plans for final triumph. whic his
sure to come.
While one thing leads to another in
these particular times. we do not want
to be tedious in all the things that
may be said; but do want to say
have the greatest faith in our troops,
and we need never fear as to their
fighting ability when it must be done.
We have today as brave a class of men
as ever lived. and in Intelligence they
have never been equaled, in so far as
l have been able to see and inform
myself. Of any army that has up to
this time existed. They all know the
principles for which they are fighting.
and they are willing to die for these
rather than be beaten by
an enemy whom we know has little
interest in the individual and TO love
whatever for our democratic form of
government
t4-s.t. 49, -. - =. -, s.. |