Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-07-10

held lelSurely conferences with the
men who were to be associated with
him in the creation of a new nation.
From these gentle slopes they looked
out upon the world and saw 1t whole,
saw it with the light Of the future
upon it, saw it with modern eyes that
turned away from a past which men
of liberated spirits could no longer
endure. 1t is for that reason that we
cannot feel, even here in the immedi-
ate presence Of this sacred tomb, that
this is place Of death. 1t was
place of achievements. A great
promise that was meant for all man
kind was here given plan and reality.
The associations by which we are
here surrounded are the inspiring as
sociations Of that noble death which
is only glorious consummation.
From this green hillside we also
ought to be able to see with compre-
hending eyes the world that lies
about us and should conceive anew
the purposes that must set men free.
Not for Glass, But for People.
1T is ignificant-significa of
their own character and purpose
and of the influences they were set
ting afoot-that Washington Ind
his associates, like the barons at Run
nymede, spoke and acted, not for a
class, but for people. 1t has been
left for us TO see to it that it shall be
understood that they spoke and act
ed, not for single people only, but
for all mankind. They were thinking,
not of themselves or of the material
interests which centered in the little
groups of landholders and merchants
and men of affairs with whom they
were accustomed to act, in Virginia
and the colonies to the north and
south Of her, but Of a people which
wished to be done with classes and
special interests and the authority of
men whom they haG not themselves
chosen to rule over them They en-
tertained no private purpose, desired
no peculiar privilege. They were con-
sciously planning that men of every
class should be free and America a
place to which men out of every ma
ton might resort who wished to
share with them the rights and priv
legeS OF free men. And we take our
cue from them-d0 we not? We in
tend what they intended. We here in
America believe our participation in
this present war to be only the fruit
age OF what they planted. Our case
it is our inestimable privilege to
concert with men out of every nation
what shall make not only the liber-
ties of America secure, but the liber-
ties Of every other people as we'll.
We are happy in the thought that we
are permitted to do what they would
have done had they been In our place.
There must now be settled once for
all what was settled for America in
the great age upon whose inspiration
We draw to-day. This Is surely flt-
ting place from which calmly to look
out upon our task, that we may for
tify our spirits for its accomplish
ment. And this is the appropriate
place from which to avow, alike to
the friends with whom we have the
happiness to be associated in action,
the faith and purpose with which to
act.
This, then Is our conception of
the great struggle in which we are
engaged. The plot is written plain
upon every scene and every act of the
supreme tragedy. On the one hand
stand the peoples Of the world-not
only the peoples actually engaged,
but many other also who suffer under
mastery, blN cannot act; peoples of
many races and in every part Of the
world-the people Of stricken Russia,
still among the rest, though they are
for the moment unorganizcd and
helpless. Opposed to them, masters
OF many armies, stand an isolated,
friendless group Of governments who
speak no common purpose, but only
selfish ambitions of their own, by
which none can profit but themselves,
and whose peoples are fuel in their
hands; governments which fear their
people and yet are for the time their
sovereign lords, making every choice
for them and disposing Of their lives
and fortunes as they will, as well as
Of the lives and fortunes of every
people who fall under their power