Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-06-14

achieved the liberty and opportuni ty
which has been denied them in their
native lands. But their prosperity
here came also danger. England COW
eted their wealth and laid on them
taxes which they had no part in levy
ing 1t was an insidious attack upon
their liberty; the entering wedge, the
step leading to a denial of both liber-
ty and opportunity, and the colonists
knew it.
With heroic fortitude they met the
issue. They declared that all men
were created equal in right and that
every man was entitled to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness. Upon
these two great propositions they
founded government, and in sup
port of that government they pledged
their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.
1t needs not to recite at length the
deeds of the patriots of the revolution
in the long war that followed. They
are inscribed on fame's eternal honor
roll and every school boy knows them.
Privation, if not restitution, stood on
every threshold: the patriot soldiery,
ragged, hungry, and ill-equipped, met
with superb courage the legions Of
monarchy on many hard-fought bat
tie field; down into the gloom of Val
ley Forge they went,
but they neve:: flinched; the graves
multiplied, but those patriots fought
for wonderful ideal which nerved
every heart; cheerfully they met
death and wounds and hardship, and
at last they achieved their object.
They had established the first great
government in the world, consciously
based upon the principle of equality
of right and opportunity.
From that far-off day down to the
present time this nation, conceived
amidst the blood and tears of paGri-
OTIS and founded on the eternal rights
OF man, has pursued course to
greatness.
It has preserved it's great ideal in
tact. Not always perhaps has that
ideal been perfectly carried out, for
every government is but human in
stitution after all, and legislation is
never perfect, but the lapses have
only been temporary. 1t has welcomed
to it's shores the oppressed of every
nation, and bid them share it's bless
ings equally with the native born: at
the cost of hundreds of thousands Of
lives and almost countless treasure it
struck the chains of slavery from mil
lions of men and gave them liberty
and opportunity; score of years ago
it saw poor Cuba torn by violence and
bloodshed, writhing under the tyfan-
ny Of Spain, and it took up ar ms to
end the shocking story. Its armies
went there, not for conquest or power,
but to carry to that stricken isle the
blessings of self-government on the
basis of equality. of right and oppor-
tundty, ard when these ends had
been accomplished the armies were
withdrawn and Cuba was free. The
Philippines came to us by purchase
rather than by conquest. America
has announced her purpose to give the
eeople of those islands absolute indie
pendence as soon as it seems certain
thatSthey are fit to govern themselves,
and that promise will be kept.
A year ago America took up arms
for the freedom of the world which
was threatened with destruction by
the greatest military despotism which
history records. In this great war
she asks no foot of foreign soil, size
seeks no toll of human lives, she has
no dreams Of conquest. She fights
only for human liberty, anti that not
for herself alone, but for the other
nations of the world as WE'LL whether
large or small.
Has any other nation in the world
such a record of heroic sacrifice upon
the altar of Liberty?
Has any other great and powerful
nation put aside thoughts Of conquest
and self-aggrandizement and waged
war only for humanity and liberty?
Does not such country deserve
sur admiration. our love, and our de.
votion? Is she not country to live
for, and if need be, to die for? Will
not every American child of what
ever descent strive to be worthy Of
this wonderful heritage?