The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-18

your conduct was superb and makes
one hundred and ten millions of
Americans proud to claim you as our
countryman. OF all your actions the
one for which we are most profoundly
grateful and for which we love you
best was that you strongly and tri-
umphantIy insisted that you and your
men would fight only as an American
army and not merely as replacement
troops for British, French, Italian or
Beigians. That feat was the acid test
of your robust Americanism. 1t
caused all our hearts to swell with in
effable pride and entitled you to our
eternal gratitude.
Highest Military Rank.
Extraordinary military rank should
be conferred only for extraordinary
services in the field. In appreciation
of your services, the congress, voicing
the sentiments of the American peo-
pie, have conferred on you in perpe-
tuity the extraordinary rank of full
general-the highest military honor
within our power to bestow, and in
honoring you we feel that we are hon
oring ourselves.
eralship, the congress has rendered
you individually and to your officers
and men en- maSse the thanks of the
American people and of the congress
of the United States-a rare honor in
itself, conferred in our entire history
on only a very few of our distin-
guished citizens for extraordinary
services to the republic.
THE resolution of thanks is in these
words:
1.-The thanks of the American peo-
pie and of the congress of the United
States are due and are hereby ten
dered to Gen. John J. Pershing for his
highly distinguished services as com
mander in chief of the American ex-
peditionary forces in Europe, and to
mand for their unwavering duty and
valor thruout the war
Tribute to Missouri.
In conclusion the former speaker
paid tribute to his native state and
explained why he had been selected
to speak. saying:
THE chief reason why the commit
tee of arrangements appointed me for
this most pleasant function is the fact
that you are not only great Amerl-
can but also the foremost living Mis-
sourian, than which there is no finer
type of American, while 1 happen to
be the dean of the Missouri delegation
in congress- l am proud and happy
to present you as exhibit A, showing
forth to the world what sort of men
Missouri grows when in her most
prodigal of moods"
Pershing in Response.
Acknowledging the honors con-
ferred by congress, General Pershins
said:
81 am deeply sensible of the privi-
lege of appearing before you as rep
resentatiVe of the American Expedi-
tionary Forces and am filled with
emotion at the sentiments that have
been expressed. This honor affords
ronn0ni-
ton of the achievements of our splen-
did army. In receiving at your hands
an expressed of the approval Of our
people 1 am richly rewarded.
"A final report of the organization
and the operations of our armies Will
be made to the secretary of war. The
manner in which this great force was
developed into an instrumentality for
victory is well known to you. The
burdens that fell to the lot OF our
soldiers have been heavy and the way
beset by many obstac les, but faith IN
the righteousness of our cause ana
trust in Almighty God have given US
courage and inspiration.
THE trials of battle demanded
Spartan endurance and utmost self
sacrifice. Never have men faced a
more difficult task nor borne greater
hardship and never have troops shown
finer spirit of willingness or more
resolute purpose.
Again Praises Home Folks.
The might of America lay not
only in her numbers and her health,
but also in the spirit of her people.
and their determination to succeed
at whatever cost. While every man
who went to France couTageously did
his part, behind him were millions
of others eager to follow, all sup
ported by a loyal people who de-
prived themselves to sustain our
armies and succor our allies. Whether
billeted in French, Belgian or Italian
villages or in the camps of England,
our young men have left behind them
a standard which will give the other
nations of the world a firmer belief