The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-31


zens. The suns of summer and the
winds of winter have whitened their
locks. The recurring seasons have
thinned their ranks and with en-
feebled steps they hasten forward to
close the gaps in their lines.
Only a few more days and these
gray haired veterans we see about us
will be tenting on the camp ground of
eternity. Let us honor them while we
may. The great majority Of the boys
in blue are sleeping today on a thou
sand hills, many of them in unknown
graves but none of them unhonored as
long as the love of liberty fingers in
the hearts of their countrymen.
The tread of tramping feet is heard
throughout the land From fireside,
factory and farm America is sending
her millions to fight again the battles
OF liberty, humanity and justice. They
are marching to the east, they are
crossing the seas, there to take their
places in the trenches of France to
fight as only Americans can figth until
the world shall be made safe for
democracy"
Let us honor the living as well as
the dead The man who bears his
breast to the bullets of my country's
enemies, 1 salute him. While living
we should crown him with the diadem
of nations gratitude, and if called
upon to make the supreme sacrifice,
hn chO 1,o III,
place with fitting honors to a nations
deliverer. Then all honor to the Am
erican citizen soldier who in times of
peace works for his cOuntrys welfare
and in times of war fights in defense
of her liberties.
my minds eye that cold Christmas
night when Washington's half clothed
patriots crossed the ice chOked Della
ware to strike blow for liberty at
Trenton. My heart thrills as / see the
starry ensign Of the Republic high on
standing like men of iron the SOL
diers of the Union beating back the
tide of an oncoming foe that a nation
might live. Again my heart thrills as
as | see our boys in khaki under the
leadership Of General Pershing go
over the top charging the battalions of
shock troops of the Kaiser where they
will fight and fight utnil Prussianism
is utterly destroyed.
Again l say all honor to the Ameri-:
can soldier whose onward march is
resistless when he follows the flag
of freedom and keeps step to the
strains of the Battle Hymn of the Re-
public.
'In the beauty of the lilies Christ was
born across the sea,
With glory in his bosom that trans
figures you and me,
AS he died to make men holy, let us
die to make men free,
While God is maching on"
The Nation Is Right.
This nation is great because it is
right. Her soldiers have been invin-
chile because they have fought for the
rights of humanity and liberty No ma
ton can long endure unless founded
and developed on right principles
The march of the United States from
the rear. to the front rank of nations
has been the progress of popular gov
ernment based on equal rights to all
men, an advance mighty and magnifi-
cent. After 140 years our government
is no more an experiment but the
most successful government on the
face Of the earth. 1t stands now as the
beacon light of true government, a
power in the example of a peoples
success.
Because this Republic has endured
other Republics have been founded
Because this nation has spoken by it's
fiat other governments have been
brought into existence where the peO-
pie rule. Only a few years ago we wit
messed the United States launching
the ship of state of the Cuban Repub-
lie on her voyage to national great
ness, acting upon the sentiments, the
very words which occasioned our own
Declaration of Independence. "The
Cubans are and of right ought to be
free and independent"
The PHILIPPINES in the far off Pa
cific are preparing for the day when
they can take over their own govern
ment as we have promised The South
American continent is a family of re-
publics protected by us from foreign
aggression under the terms OF the
Monroe doctrine.
The Republic of France has grown
to strength and influence and in this
time of crisis commands the admira-
tion of the entire civilized world Eng
land is a thoroughly democratic ma
ton with monarch in name only.
Far off China with her ancient ira
ditions extending back to the dawn
Of history would follow the example
of America and establish a republican
form of government. She will succeed.
The Russian people are the last
converts to our cause. They struggle
and they fall. A brutal and unscrupu-
lOus enemy enters into a solmen
treaty OF peace to respect the terri
tory of Russia. Without sense of hon
or the treaty is violated and the Ger
man army marches over the bodies of
helpless people.
But Russia will rise The dawn of a
new day will come when the republic
will be an accomplished fact. When
peace comes the German army must