Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-07
GRAND ARMY FOR
A ROYAL WELCOME
National Commander Pays Trib-
ute to the Heroes Of '18, as
Well as GIGS.

In urging the members of the Grand
Army OF the Republic to join IN the hearty
welcome for the American heroes re.
turning from the war, c. h. Adams, OF
Lincoln, Neb, the national commander,
has addressed the order throughout the
country, under date of November 1a, as
follows:
Comrades of the Grand Army of the
Republic:
Greeting:
This is the anniversary of Abraham
Lincoln's Gettysburg address, IN which he
says:
'The brave men, living and dead, who
struggled here have consecrated 1t Tar
sbove our power to add or detract. The
world will little know nor long remember,
what VIC say here, but it can never forget
what thev did here. 1t is for us, the living,
rather, TO be here dedicated to the un-
finished work which they who fought here
have thus far so nobly advanced II is
rather Sor us to be here dedicated TO the
great task remaining before us-that from
these honored dead We take increased de-
votion tn that cause for which they gave
the last full measure of devotion-that we
here highly resolve that these dead shall
not have died in vain-that this Nation
under God. shall have new birth of
ireedom-and that government of the
PEOPLE, by the people, for the people,
shall not perish from the earth.
How justly applicable arc these words
today.
The worlds greatest crisis has passed; !;
The roaring cannon is stilled: the rattle of
the machine gun Is silcnccd: the roll of
musketry no longer reaps its toll al human
life; the bugle's blast, the shouts of charg-
ing men, the quick sharp command, no
longer marshal men to battle: the nights
are no longer hidcous with the whirr Of
the zeppelin; the submarine has ceased
10 lash the peaceful waters Of the sea with
It's fury of destruction. And from the
frowning battlements and deep trenches of
The war swept fields of Europe, we can be
bold the American soldier returning vic
nrious from the hercest, bIoodiest and
most desperate battlehelds of all tame.
.xalted and honored for his intrepid
bravery, his gallantry, and his American
manhood. And in the arched blue dome of
Heaven he has forever fixed 'Old Glory."
he flag Of the free. Those Of "our boys
Who are resting upon the battlehelds of
Europe, are martyrs, lofty IN patriotism
and crowned with glory as exalted as
sver inspired a Christian martyr II was
y
ought and died. but il WAS for that notlcr
purpose that swells in the bosom Of the
rue patriot that exslts American freedom
as blessing tn all mankind.
To those whose LIVES were spared. we
say: Come home, brave boys, YOUR duties
are done: America is YOURS, and the world
is your debtor. To the parents and rela-
.ives Of our Liberty BOYS can we say. The
badge OF honor YOU have so proudly worn
has become imrnutably fixed in all our
hearts and ali our homes, some are silver
end some are gold. With the silver star rs
blended nation welcome. To the star of
gold, martyred heroes, around you cluster
memories of sacrifice and devotion that
ksncthy freedoms S cause. Americas
part IN this wsr has extended the prin-
1ples Of freedom and justice to all man
kind. II hiss broken the fetters Of preiu-
dice, it has destroyed arbitrary govern
ments and dictatorial power: il has swept
the rule OF tyrants from the face of the
earth; it has given liberty TO all mankind
My comrades, this great war was tho
elimination OF the principles for which
YOU fought from 81 10 Is, and in carry
ing forward this great plan OF freedom and
reconstruction, let US pursue it with q vIe-
or and sincerity worth the American name.
Now is the time 10 display our love OF
freedom. Our national holidays are near TO
hand Make them resplendent with
patriotism and devotion. May our beacon
light ever be one country, one Language
and one flag. And 10 our army and navy
we can say-our nations pride and boast,
invincible IN war, incompatible IN peace.
See to il that public meetings are called
and that a royal welcome greets the re-
turn OF our anks" 10 their homes.