The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-05-30

been wars of principle based on
We wished no quar-
rel with Germany But our rights
had been invaded, our liberties had
been threatened in the very cradle
of liberty The worlds civilization
was at stake, yet for more man two
years we held to q neutrality that
shamed us. After the inv tsion OF
Belgium, and the killing o. Belgian
civilians, and tie outraging OF Bel
gian womanhood, and the deporta-
ton of her old Elen into German slaV
cry; after attacks on deIenseless
towns, after zeppelin raids by night,
after the laying of mines in neutral
waters, and the summarizing OF neu-
trail merchant ships without warn
ing. after being denied the right to
sail the high seas, we still said, This
is war, savage archaic, unclVlilzed
war. We cannot justify it: but it is
not our war; we will not Intervene.
But the day came when we could !
not longer endure the inso:ence and
the arrogance, and the brutality OF
this merciless foe of mankind. we
could not keep out of the conflict, |
and preserve our national self-re-
spect. We entered the wal to save
America from becoming Il German
Province; to defend our threatened
liberties: to free the world from the !
rule of brute force; to beget and to |
preserve a true democracy OF inter- |
national brotherhood, and to see that |
this government of the people, for !
the people, and by the people, should |
not perish from the earth.
Today we look up in gratitude to
Almighty God, that through His
blessings, and through the prowess
of our soldiers and their comrades
in arms, the Hindenburg Line has
been broken, and at Chateau-Thiery,
and the Argonnc Forest. and Bellau
Wood, the invading Huns have been
made to "goose-step" i'll double
quick back across the border, and
the Tri-color OF France, and the
Union Jack of Britain, ami the Stars
and Stripes, your flag and mine,
float in triumph above the palaces
of the Kaiser, held by the armies of
occupation, keeping Watch on the
rhine"
Our dead, in whose honor we as
semble here To-Day. whether they
wore the Blue or the Gray, or wheth
er of the more recent dead, whose
patriotic blood has consecrated the
fields of Flanders, and the living he
roes, who at the call of the colors,
sprung to arms, beget confidence in
our breasts. We believe today IN
America, the land of the noble Tree.
We believe in her leaders her states
men, her strength, her future des-
tiny Again America has demon
strated her ability to handle big
task in a big way, and standing be-
side these hallowed mounds, where
reposes the dust of those who have
died in her defense, and surrounded
bv those who stand ready to give
their blood for her sacred inst1tu-
lions, we feel sublime confidence
that through all the coming years
the grand Old Flag, undefeated and
glorious, in triumph still shall wave
"O'er the Land of the Free. and the
Home of the Brave"
In the language of Scott:
.Breathes there man with soul so
dead,
Who never to himself hath said:
This is, nay own. my native Hand.
Whose heart hath never within him
burned
AS home his foot steps he hath turned
From wandering on foreign
strand?
IF such there breathe, go, mark him
well,
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his
name,
Boundless his wealth, as wish can
claim;
Despite his titles. power and pelf,
The wretch concentered all in self,
Living shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from which he
sprung,
Unwept, unhonoIed, and unsung."
"Our Fathers God, to Thee
Author of Liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedoms holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King"
Will be in Cambridge next week.
Yours, Mickey.