The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-01-09
IN MEMORY OF BASIL YATES.
Community Church Crowded Sun
day Night to Honor Dead
Heso.-Address BY Rev.
Martin and Bascom
Billups.

Honoring the soldier who gave
his life for humanity and in sym,
pathy for the parents who gave
their boy to their country, the
people Of this neighborhood filled
the Community church to over
flowing Sunday night and heard
two addresses that made the oc-
casion lastingly impressive one
by Charles Bascom Billups, who
himself felt the steel of the Hun
on the blood-drenched fields of
Europe, and one by Rev. Claude
b. Martin, who with equal zeal
and loyalty did his best among
those required to remain at home.
G. G. Pennell presided as master
of ceremonies, and musical num-
bers which gave sweet tenderness
to the solemn event were rendered
by the church choir and Mrs. c.
j. Skinner, with Miss Cargill as
piano accompanist.
Basil Yates, son of Ml1 and
Mrs. Charles w. Yates, of this
vicinity, died on October s, from
wounds received in the drive thru
the Argonne forest in FralAe
when the 91st Division covered
itself with everlasting glory.
The remarks delivered by
Charles Bascom Billups on this
occasion were more in the nature
Of a narrative of his and other
American soldiers experiences
at the front, but it was wildly
and impressively told and absorb
ed by the audience with intense
interest. 1t will be given in en-
tirety in next week s Hearld.
Rev. Martin s beautiful and
merited tribute follows:
We pay tribute tonight to Pri-
vate Basil Yates, who was killed
serving his country. We honor
him. This community will always
remember him as one of it's he
roes who fought in the great ar
my Of freedom against giant foe
who put might before right. We
revere his memory. We are here
to- sympathize with his mother and
father and brother in their alb
sence. The mother and father,
sturdy loyal, righteous, loving
American citizens, have sacrificed
all within their power to sacrifice
for freedom and America.
"A son who was to have returned
and given comfort in old age will
not return. How great the price
we have paid for democracy! But
had we sacrificed a thousand
times the number that we did
had every city and village been
razed to the ground-the price
would not be too great, if that |
sacrifice had left few with the
true American spirit with a Wis
ion of brotherhood, democracy
forward, conquering the
wrong and injustice in the world. |
How proud we are tonight to say,
II am an American citizen !"
From the time the Pilgrim faith
ers set foot on Plymouth Rock
until our "boys" smashed the
German military machine, we
have been fighting for certain
ideals and standards. Have we
won these? If we have, Basil
Yates death is not in vain-that
sacrifice is not too great
This war has cost us ten billion
dollars and we have not gained a
dollar or a foot Of ground. What
nave we won?
0) We have won democracy
md freedom. The ideal of liberty
md freedom beats in the heart Of
every man. For long time Amer
ca had stood alone in saying,
eAll men are created free and
equal and have certain rights
% enjoy life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness. Today the
world is saying this.
~ America was first to de-
slare that governments derive
heir just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. The world
.oday believes in this democratic
'orm Of government. This we
lave won.
(3) Nearly a hundred years
lgo Uncle Sam said: ono foreign
power had a right to foot Of
American SOIL" The world has
taught the idea and is saying:
No nation has right to modest
mother nation, small or great, as
ong as that nation is minding it's
,wn business.
az We have won justice and
righteousness and brotherhood.
(5) We have won permanent
,eace. No son will ever again be
allied upon to leave the plow. TO
i've his life for his country. The
world is at peace. Nations will