Norwich bulletin., 1920-02-21

second lecture under the auspices OI the Mems Brotherhood of the United Congregational church, entertaining an audience of over 300 with his in structive talk upon The New Ameri-s ca and The American Legion.
 Col Buxton saw. active service n France with the Second Battalion of the 328th Infantry in the 82nd Dlyi- sion, the "All American division, and at the beginning of his lecture gave an interesting description of the, service that his battalion saw.
 He was introduced by Rev. Alex ander H. Abbott, pastor of the United church. who referred pleasantly 10 an experience over twenty years ago at Brown university, when Col. Buxton, then sophomore in college, led par ty of his classmates, who kidnapped MT. Abbott, president of the freshman class. and carried him away so that he could not attend the freshman banquet.
 Seated on the platform with the speaker, Rev. MT. Abbott and Rev. J. Herrick. Vice Commander Webstdr Copp, and Second. Vice Commander Benedict c. Pullen of Robert o. Fletcher post, No. 4, American Le- gion.
 The following members of the post acted as ushers: Lewis J. :. Dat, Harry House Harry K. .,Iennes, George Am burn. William Anderson, Edwin Blood. and John De Brenner. The Stars and Stripes were used for the platform decorations and several patriotic songs were sung, during the evening.
 Col Buxton Speaks.
 Col. Buxton spoke in part. as fol- lows:
 What is the opinion of the sold ier<concerning the future military pol icy of the United States? A referen- dun would doubtless bring forth a variety of answers. The delegates to the National Convention of the Amer ican Legion at Minn eapoaiS,. the duly elected representatives of million ex-service men. voted unanimously for small regular army, National Guard and a citizen army in. which young men receive a few months mill ltary training. It WAS stipulated that, the entire military plan should be under such combined civilian and mil itary control that no milttariSdc caste could grow out of the ashes of the ambitious militarisrn which was de- SIroyed on the western battle dine in November 1918. There are those who claim 10 see even in this Legion plan, threat ofathe old German disease.
 Do you believe that any consirer- able body of veterans yearn for more wars and new worlds to conquer? Do not be deceived. The veteran has no illusions concerning war. The glamour of peace time pageantry does not fill the mind of the man who has known battle.
 To him an offensive suggests an endless movement of sleepless men and animals through countless black nights of rain and mud. It trans forms dusk and dawn into a mon strous nightmare of waiting for some new horror. It makes the clean beds of hospitals seems havens of ease and peace. The buisness of war Is a hate ful thing, carried on in filth and yer min and accompanied by a fatigue i that drags the body and saps the will. No, it may safely be assumed that the representatives of the American Legion who voted for mild period 0f universal military training loathe war with undivided hearts.
 What are some of the seasons which | influenced their action. In the first place does anyone de- Jude himself that wars are ended ir | Sais world? Has the millennium come | yet even among neighbors, to say
  separated by oceans and mountain ranSSs with sharply conflicting com i mercial and political interests? Dit brotherly love follow the wtthdrawa of the Boston police
 Has the conduct of the nationa | groups since the armiStice indicated altruism or selfisllRess? Are you re assured by the altitude of Jugo- -Slav
 la and Italy, Czeko- Slavia and. Hun gary, China and Japan, Poland, Fin
 land, EsthoEia, Russia. Rumania anc
 Siberia?
 Is France satisfied that German.
 will never attempt her hour of re
 venge?
 Has th1 world changed for the bet
 ter since a good friend of ours ad
 vised us to speak softly and carry
 big stick
 I shall never forget sentence il
 the speech of ex-Governor Franl . Black when nominating Theodor
 Roosevelt at Chicago. Women ma
 weep and men may pray but war will not vanish from off this cart until the dreams of childhood sha
 have become the accepted charts c human conduct"
 Theodore Roosevelt! I do not kno7
 if you agree with me, but my ow
 spirit would be lighter this night
 his voice could ring out in tS@ 10
 which seems to envelope his country
 men (Applause).
 Let me quote from his editorial pub
 lished November. 1918.
 Nations are made, defended an preserved, not by the illusionists bu by the men and women who practic the homely virtues in times of peac,
 and who in time of righteous war ar ready to die oEs to send those the love best to die for a shining ideal Military Training. But beyond all question or preparin } to prevent war and preserving our na ] Nonal life and liberty, many thought , full men favor universal training fl purely domestic reasons-the physic; l development of our people; a practic;
 training in. organization and respet for constitutional authority. An l most important of all Is the establish l ing of the principal that in a dernoc 7 racy equal opportunity implies equi { obligation.
 When all are so insistent upon the rights let 1t be demonstrated that a l have equal duties. No better ant iote can be found for class distint
 tions and bitterness than period j
 the young mans life in which performs the same national duty-ric l and poor, and low, educated and illi crate foreign born and native born ] eide by side carrying the san s weight Of pack-sweat brothers in Il 5 common cause.
 :. Personally, I would be glad to s' 7 the youth of the republic work togetl ,. CT for the general good over a peric F Df few months, even if no rnilital ! training was involved and they hui roads CT dug potatoes.