Arizona republican., 1919-05-31

 that has saved the freedom of the world has been the inability of the slave to withstand the valor of the freeman. The military despot can found a state, he can raise and euuip an army; he | can train that army to meet death with but no despot can place within the bosoms of his soldiers that I fiery courage which burns within the breast of the patriot. The slave fights because he fears to disobey: the pa { triot fights to protect all that is near and dear-all that is his own. The slave fights as long as constituted au- thority guides his point the patriot as long as one drop of blood is left in his veins and dies knowing the joy that his comrades will carry on. When the dimness of death seals his eyes, he knows that even though he shall not live to see it, his comrades will win and his children will inherit untram- meled, those institutions which were his birthright.
 No braver soldier ever lived than the soldier of the revolution. His disad vantages were legion; inferior in num- bers, poorly equipped, insufficient clothing and food-with the greatest empire in the world as his enemy; Yet for seven years he battled with q courage that admitted no defeat, and was finally victorious at Yorktown. It was the first British defeat in 500 years. Yet that defeat must have been rendered less bitter by the thought that it was men of their own race who had accomplished it.
 Again, in 1872, the soldiers of Jack son and Scott proved that the Ameri- can had not lost his fighting edge. In the Mexican war of 1S4S, the deeds performed by Taylors men at Buena Vista seemed almost the deeds of demi gods.
 But in my opinion, the greatest cour- age and the greatest devotion to duty was shown by the men who followed Mcclellan, Grant, sherman, Sheridan, Longstreet and Lee. It was the great i trial, in which it was proven that the 1 government of the people, dedicated to | liberty and equality. should be inner ! ited by posterity-and that it should not exist dismembered, half slave and 1 half free. Standing, as we do today, l far from the bitterness of the hour of
 secession and blood, we can admire the
 courage of north and south alike, re-
 membering only that they were Amer |
 sidered right. As for myself, who was
 named for Robert E. Lee and whose family was in the Confederate army,
 the names of Lee and Grant are alike
 emblazoned with glory. I thank God
 was not born to take part in that fear fud outpouring of the blood of broth CTS, and 1 feel that the civil war was
 but the vengeance of God for the sin
 of this nation in permitting African
 slavery after we had solemnly declared
 that all men are created free and
 equal.
 And at this time I want to say to
 you that the man of African blood in this country has ever stood ready to fight-and die, if necessary-for the
 old flag which made him free, but,
 am sorry to say, has not always given
 him equal political rights with the white man. With a magnanimity sell
 dom equaled, he forgot he was brought
 to our shores against his will and in
 chains. and has been thankful for the
 crumbs that fall from the white man S
 table. There is only one place tbat the
 man of African blood has always had
 equal opportunity with others, and
 that is upon the firing line when the
 nation is in danger. He has been
 given equal opportunity to shed his
 blood and die in defense Of his country
 But upon this solemn occasion We
 should forget everything except that
 we are Americans, and bow our heads in reverence and be more thankful fol
 the glorious men who have been by the
 goodness of God, given to defend our
 nation.
 In 1898, the men whom I claim as
 .11.-
 and marched out on a crusade of more
 consequence to this nation than many : realize. About 2400 perished in battle
 and from disease, but we gave to ouI
 nation a gracious little neighbor, who
 sits in childish confidence at our feet
 and in so doing we swept the last yes
 tige of old-world tyranny from the
 new. Yea, and we did more-for iIl
 sending that splendid soldier, General Leonard Wood, to Cuba, we removed the last danger of that terrible scourge the yellow fever, from our shores. Ii Cuba had remained in Spanish control we can only speculate as to what length German intrigue would have gone during the great war upon the little island.
 Up to the present time I have beer dealing with our soldiers of the past now come to the soldier of the pres. ent. Those who are returning to oul arms, and those who sleep within tht bosom of foreign land. Our newly dead, who lie among the poppies an( crosses in the sunny fields of France Between their last resting place anC home the foam -flecked waves of tn, Atlantic roll in endless surge. Neve again will they behold with morta eyes the hills and valleys of their na tive land. And for them on this da, the eyes of sweetheart and mothe are dim, from bleak New England' shore to where the Golden Gate look out over the west.
 S Three years ago I felt the soul of m. S country was dead. It seemed tha \ patriotism was gone. But I found i E was only sleeping. I am not ashame to tell you that tears of pride dimme' my eyes when I saw our boys marcl H away. Then came the 25d day of June E 1918, when the Tanks stopped tn \ drive on Paris, and saved the world As l look back at those days whe \ our troops first entered the fight, seems to me like the golden trail of comet. can see them marching long, olive-drab line. I can hear ther singing: "The Tanks are coming an \ I can see them irresistibly sweepin | over the German hordes. I can SC men like our glorious Frank Luke. Jr \ burning out the eyes of the Germa military monster. They feared noth \ ing but dishonor
 The deeds of our soldiers who too part in the great war are written 0 , the walls o ftime with pen of stee and as long as a single tongue ute. \ an English word, so long will thos deeds be remembered. They have res urrected us from a death of indiffer a ence. They have given liberty, nc