Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-02-21

~ marchlhg on among US forever.
James BIedsoe was not physically
robust. A man Of different spirit
might have sought exemption from
military service on the ground of his
physical condition. But he prepared
himself eagerly and anxiously to meet
the physical tests necessary 70 his ad.
mission to the army. / do not sup
pose he ever dreamed Of becoming a
dominating part in the struggle for
which he enlisted. He was climbing
steadily the pathway of merited pro.
motion, but have no idea that he ex-
peeted to be the General in Chief Of
our armies, or exercise the deciding
influence in the winning of our victo-
ries. What he did have was the spir-
it Of the man who uttered the words
of our text, who was himself the
knightliest warrior who ever offered
his life on the altar of holy cause
"As much as in me is, l am ready"
l am very sure that Private Bledsoe
desired with all his heart to carry his
rifle into the trenches on the battle
front, and join conflict, man to man
with his eountry's enemies. This was
not to be; and yet, just as truly as il
he had fallen in the heat Of conflict
has he offered his life for the preser.
walton Of those democratic institutions
which we Americans hold dear. He be-
longs to the number who daily are
dropping to their death from the
clouds, or sinking beneath the waves
of the sea, or falling in the trenches
for the maintenance of our liberties
and the purchase of our happiness ant
peace. And because Of this his life
and death have a message for us
which we dare not ignore.
Let us not be vague in our concep.
tion of the institutions for which he
has offered his life. Yonder in the
square stands our old court house
Two blocks to the north of us is oui
splendid high schol building. Here
we are gathered in a church, and are
surrounded by other churches dedicat
ed like this to the free worship o.
/ God. Beyond the sea hand i
stretched forth, red with blood Of in
Vulnerable innocents and foul with un
speakable cruelties. 1t seeks to fastei
its unholy grip upon our court house
that it may change it from a tempt
of freedom and justice into an agenc
for the furtherance of tyranica
OPPRESSION. 1t seeks to lay hold upo,
our school house, that it may substi
tute for the pursuit Of the truth
curriculum designed to justify an
support the divine right of a merci
less despotism. 1t seeks to strik
down our free worship Of Almight,
God, and turn our services Of prais
into blasphemous echoes of the raw
ings of vicious and unbalanced En-
peror. It is for the prevention o
these great calamities that our boy
are dying. Gathered here before tn
casket OF one who has made the fina
sacrifice, let US seek to get visiol
of our own duty as Americans.
Not many Of us here will have tn
privilege of active military service
but let us remember that there ar
victories possible to us no less nee
essary than the victories of the battl
field. 1t is our holy privilege t
cherish and perfect the institutions 70
which our boys are so gladly layinl
down their lives. In the light of thi
sacrifice which we are here to cele
brate, l invite you to contemplate you
miserable penny-snatching and food
hog selfishness. Bring your sneakinl
and dishonest politician, your relig
ious bigot, your swindling merchant
your petty slanderer, and your grudg
carrier into this revealing light, | d
not know how it is with you, but from
this time forth will vote for no MAJ
because of his party tag, nor will
respect him because he is able to pro
nounce a denominational Shibboleth
Unless he can convince me that he
deeply and unselfishly loyal to tn
best interests Of these things 70
which our boys are dying, he sha
have no claim upon my support or m
respect. For he who destroys tn
Harmony of the community, or under
mines the justice and integrity of tn
State and Nation, is traitor, not on
| " against the State as an abstrac
conception, but against the blood an
memory of those who have died t
preserve it. Gathered here aroun
this casket, let us deeply resolve t
be forever free from the taint o
such petty treason. And let US say
with the solemnity of religious vow
that as far as in US is, we are read,
to preserve, pure and imperishable
the heritage of freedom which is sc
cured to us in the blood Of our son
and brothers.
Life is too often like leaky wood
en- bucket. Drop by drop through tn
weary years happiness and hope, faitl
and friendship, strength and love g
drip, drip, dripping out of it until tn
slaves dry, the seams open, the hoop
drop and it falls in pitiable and futil
wreckage. 1t is not an evil thing t
die in the days of ones youth for tn
: triumph of a righteous cause. Jane
Rledsoe has been spared the choking
dust of bitter years, and has fallen a
tbe gates of the morning with tn
freshness and glory of his youth up
on him He will not be forgotten
You have heard it said, that the bloc
! of the martyrs is the seed of tn